The History of the Saints

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NOTE BY THE PUBLISHERS. •

In ofiering the following work to the public, we

«

think it not improper to make a few observations
respecting the author and our connection with
him.

We became aware, through the medium of the
newspapers, that General Bennett was about to pub-
lish a work containing his disclosures respecting
Joe Smith and the Mormons. Meeting him in New
York, and being satisfied, from our intercourse with
him, that he deserved our confidence, we made
arrangements with him to publish the book he was
preparing. During its preparation and passage
through the press, we have been almost constantly
iti his society, and have seen him for a long time
under a variety of circumstances. The result of
our observations has been, that we place the most
implicit reliance upon his veracity, and are perfectly
convinced that he is a gentleman of strict honor, and
of very considerable acquirements and information.

In regard to the statements he has made in the
following pages, we cannot, of course, say any thing
upon our personal knowledge ; but we know, from
om* own inspection, that the documents, affidavits.

11 NOTE BT THE PUBLISHERS.

and certificates, he has inserted therein, are genuine ;
and most of the letters, at least those of a recent
date, came through the post-office into our hands,
and Vete by us given to General Bennett, who in-
variably submitted them to our inspection.

We can also state that we have seen numerous
letters from Nauvoo, written by respectable persons,
who, we have learnt from the public papers, reside
at Nauvoo, and who state things, which corrobo-
rate, in all particulars, the disclosures of General
Bennett.

Our motive in publishing this work is to let the
public be informed of the true character of these
pretended Mormon Saints, which we firmly and
conscientiously believe to be truly set forth in
General Bennett's work, and in colors not height-
ened or exaggerated.

As a true exposition, therefore, of Mormon Faith
md Practice, we commend it to the serious and
impartial attention of the public.

EMERSON LELAND,
WILL^aD J. WHITING

}

T9£

HISTORY OF THE SAINTS ;

OB,

^^^5T7

AN EX?Ost

OF

JOE SMITH AND MORMONISM.

m

JOHN C. BENNETT.

BOSTON:
LELAND & WHITING, 71 WASHINGTON ST.

NEW YORK : BRADBURY, SODEN, & CO., 127 NASSAU STREET.
CINCINNATI: £. 8. NORRIS & CO., 347 MAIN STREET.

1842.

^

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1842, by

John C. Bennett,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

PREFACE.

I HAVE been induced to prepare and publish the
following work by a desire to expose the enormous
iniquities which have been perpetrated by one of
the grossest and most infamous impostors that ever
appeared upon the face of the earth, and by mauiy
of his minions, under the name and garb of Religion,
and professedly by the direct will and command of
Almighty God.

My facilities for doing what I have undertaken are
as great as could possibly be desired. For eighteen
months I was living with the Mormons at their
chief city, and possessed the confidence of the
Prophet himself, and of his councillors. I was,
indeed, from an early period, one of their First
Presidents, who, after the Prophet, are the rulers
of the Church. This gave me access to all their
secret lodges and societies, and enabled me to be-
come perfectly familiar with the doings and designs
of the whole Church.

This book contains a full and accurate account
of my motives for joining them, and of the discov-
eries which I made among them, illustrated and
confirmed by a variety of documents, both public
and private.

PREPACK.

*

I have not, I can fearlessly assert, exaggerated
the facts I have here presented to the world, though
I have, as they richly deserve, shown them up with
an unsparing hand.

I have been obliged to insert much personal
matter, and many testimonials respecting myself,
in consequence of the violent and scurrilous attacks
made upon me through the public papers by the
Impostor and his emissaries. This, I trust, the
reader will not impute to egotism, but to its real
cause — a desire to strengthen my statements against
the opposition which I am certain they will en-
counter.

In conclusion, I would commend to the candid
and earnest attention of every patriotic and religious
person the statement I have made; and, with the
assurance that I have told the truth, and nothing
but the truth, though by no means the whole truth,
entreat them to use all their influence and exertions
to arrest and quell the Mormon Monster in his
career of imposture, iniquity, and treason.

The haste with which I have necessarily written
my book will be my apology to the critics for its
defects of style and arrangement. I have been
more solicitous about the matter than the manner
of it.

THE

HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

REASONS FOR JOINING THE MORMONS.

I

It is, of course, necessary for me to give some expla-
nation of the reasons which led me to join the Mormons,
and of my motives for remaining so long in connection
with them. I am happy to have it in my power to do this
easily and satisfactorily.

I find that it is almost universally the opinion of those
who have heard of me in the eastern part of the United
States, that I united myself to the Mormons from a con-
viction of the truth of their doctrines, and that I was, at
least for some time, a convert to their pretended religion.
This, however, is a very gross error. / never believed in
them or their doctrines. This is, and indeed was, from the
first, well known to my friends and acquaintances in the
western country, who were well aware of my reasons for
connecting myself with the Prophet ; which reasons I will
now proceed to state.

My attention had been long turned towards the move-
ments and designs of the Mormons, with whom I had
become pretty well acquainted, years before, in the state of
Ohio; and af^er the formation of their establishment at .
Ng^ivfin^ in Ift^, thft facts and reports respecting them, 'Lz
which! continually heard, led me to suspect, and, indeed, y
believe, t hat their leaders had formed ^ and were preparingjto
/^yAf.iitP^ a_da ring and colossal schem e of rebellion and usuP
n ation ^ hrotighniit the JStortlh-VVftstern gsraf^S'oT'fTift Umori".""
It was to me evident that temporal, as well as spiritual,
empire was the aim and expectation of the Prophet and

^<

6 BISTOBT OF rut SAINTS.

his cabinet. The documents that will hereafter be intrcv
duced, will clearly show the existence of a vast and deep-
laid schetne, upon their part, for conquering the states of
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Missoi^ri, and of erecting
I upon the ruin of their present governments a despotic
military and religious empire, the head of which, as emperor
and pope, was to be Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the
Lord, and his ministers and viceroys, the apostles, high-
i priests, elders, and bishops, of the Mormon church.

The fruition of this hopeful project- would, of course,
have been preceded by plunder, devastation, and bloo^
shed, and by all the countless horrors ^which invariably
accompany civil war. American citizens could not be
expected to stand quietly by, and suffer their governments
to be overthrown, their religipn subverted, their wives and
children converted into instruments for a despot's lust and
ambition, and their property forcibly appropriated to the
use and furtherance of a base imposture. The Mormons
would, of course, meet with resistance as soon as their
intentions became evident ; and q^jTroat wajg ^Irfia^y *^\r
power, and an rftnif^ly Hid thfiir niimhrri increase, that the
most inghtlul cc«isecjy[^c^SL™J5]}I^J^aj;u rally, be expected _
t(renstre, from an armed collision between them and the
"citizeiis who still remained faithful to the God and the
laws of their fathers.

These reflections continually occurred to me, as I ob-
served the proceedings of the Mormons, and, at length,
determined me to make an attempt to detect and expose
the roQvers and machinery of the plot.

I perceived that it would be useless to undertake this
by open opposition. So great and complete was the con-
trol that the Prophet had established over the souls of his
followers, that very little of his vile proceedings could be
made known from the confessions or testimony of his sub-
ordinates. Even if one or two did testify to any particular
acts of wickedness, such were the address and influence of
Smith, that he would, without difficulty, bring forward any
required number of witnesses, who would perjure them-
selves in direct contradiction of his adversaries.

It at length occurred to me that the surest and speediest
W2^y Xq pvfirthcow the Impostort and expose bis inicyiity to

BXAS0N8 r09 JOINWjQ TV HORBfONB. 7

^e world, would be to profiess myself a convert to his doc-
trines, and join him at the seat of his dominion. I felt
confident that from my standing in society, and the offices
I held under the state of Illinois, I should be received
by the Mormons with open arms ; and that the course I
was resolved tp pursue would enable me to get behind the
curtain, and behold, at my leisure,- the secret wires of the
fabric,''%int likewise those who moved them.

I was quite aware of the danger I ran, should I be sus-
pected or detected by the Mormons; and I also anticipated
the probability of being received by many of my fellow-
citizens with disbelief and obloquy, when the time came to
throw off the mask, and proclaim to the world the dis-
coveries I felt certain I should make. But none of these
things deterred me. Impelled by a determination to save
my country and my countrymen from the evils which
menaced them through the machinations of the Prophet,
I was rendered insensible to the risk I incurred. There
was, it was evident, no other way of thwarting the Im-
postor and his myrmidons, and the plan I proposed to my-
self could not possibly, so far as I could foresee, fail of
complete success.

I found in history a distinguished example of a some-
what parallel case, — that in which Ns^oleon, for the
furtherance of the views of the French government upon
Egypt and the East, had nominally adopted the Moslem
creed. Tlie following is the passage in his Life to which
I refer : —

*^ Baonaparte entertained the strange idea of persuadinflf the
Moslems that he himself pertained in some sort to their religion,
being an envoy of the Deity, sent on earth, not to take away, but to
confirin and complete, the doctrines of the Koran, and the mission
of Mahomet, ne used, in executing this purpose, the inflated
language of the East, the more easily that it corresponded, in its
allegorical and amplified style, with his own natural tone of com-
position ; and he hesitated not to join in the external ceremonial of
the Mahommedan religion, that his actions might seem to confirm
his words. The French general celebrated the feast of the Prophet,
m it recurred, with some Sheik of eminence, and joined in the
litanies and worship enjoined by the Koran. He affected, too, the
lansruage of an inspired follower of the faith of Mecca, of which
the following is a curious example : —

*** On entering the sepulchral chamber in the pyramid of Cheops,
J Otojr>fi JiP AUftll/ ItfMd .^Monapartei < tb^re is no Q^d but Qqd^

8 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

and MahommM is his prophet; ' — a confession of faith which is Hi
itself a declaration of Islamism.

'^ ' Thou hast spoken like the most learned of the prophets/ said
the Mafti, who accompanied him.

'' ' I can command a car of fire to descend from heaven,' con-
tinued the French general, * and I can guide and direct its course
upon earth.'

** * Thou art the great chief to .whom Mahommed gives power
and victory,' said the Mufli.

*^ Napoleon closed the conversation with this not very pertinent'
Oriental proverb — *■ The bread which the wicked seizes upon by
force, shall be turned to dust in his mouth.'" — Life of J^apoleon
Buonaparte^ Vol. I., p. 416.

The motives which led Napoleon to profess Mohammed-
anism were undoubtedly a desire to advance the interests
of his country, and to facilitate the operations of the army
he commanded. But, if these motives justified him in the
course he pursued, how much more had I to justify me in
a similar line of conduct ! His temporary profession of a
false religion was by no means absolutely necessary under
the circumstances ; while, as I before observed, mine was
indispensable to the end I had in view. And how much
superior was my object to his ! He merely wished to pro-
mote the ambitious views of his government; 'I, on the
contrary, was endeavoring to save my country from the
most dreadful evils — civil war, despotism, and the estab-
lishment of a false and persecuting religion.

" But how," inquires some cautious reader, " were you,
as an honest man, justified in taking such a course? What
confidence can I place in your statements, when I know,
by your own confession, that you have once played the
part of a hypocrite ? "

These suspicions are very natural, and from the first I
expected to incur them ; but I think that a very little con-
sideration of the extraordinary nature of my case will
convince any candid person of the propriety, and indeed
necessity, of the course of action I pursued.

Suppose for a moment, my dear reader, that you were
located on our western frontier, in the vicinity of a large,
powerful, and increasing tribe of savage Indians. Sup-
pose it is apparent, from their movements, that they intend
evil to the whites, your countrymen ; that they are medi-
taUng murder, plunder, and devastatioD, and all the horrors

' BEASONS FOR JOINING THE MORMONS. 9

that invariably attend an Indian war. Suppose that by
going to them, and professing to be their friend, you knew
that you would be received by them freely, and admitted
into their councils, and could, by the intelligence you
would thus gain, be enabled to frustrate their plans, and
avert from your country the evils and dangers which these
savages would otherwise bring upon it Would you for a
moment scruple to make such pretensions? especially
if, as in the case of the Mormons, there were no other
possible way to do what the safety of the west demanded,
— viz,, expose the imposture.

The fact that in joining the Mormons I was obliged to
make a pretence of belief in their religion does not alter
the case. That pretence was unavoidable in the part £
was acting, and it should not be condemned like hypocrisy
towards a Christian church. For so absurd are the doc-
trines of the Mormons that I regard them with no more
reverence than I would the worship of Manitou or the
Great Spirit of the Indians, and feel no more compunction
at joining in the former than in the latter, to serve the
same useful purpose.

I was perfectly satisfied, even before the Mormons went
from Ohio, that it was the intention of Joe Smith and ^
those who possessed his confidence._tQ..desiroy the sacred
institutions of Christianity, and substitute, instead of its
powerful restraints upon the unholy, passions of the human
neart, a frightfully-corrupt system, that would enable them
to give free course to their lust, ambition, and cruelty — a
system' than which, one more abominable the arch-enemy
of mankind himself could not have invented. Persons
unacquainted with the subject can scarcely imagine the
baseness and turpitude of Mormon principles, and the
horrid practices to which these principles give rise. When
they learn how habitually the Mormons sacrifice to their
brutal propensities the virtue and happiness of young and
innocent females, how they cruelly persecute those who
refuse to join them, and how they murder those who at-
tempt to expose them, they will look with indulgence upon
almost any means employed to thwart their villanous de-
signs and detect and disclose their infamy.

There was-*- 1 repeat it-— no possible way for me to ex-

10 HISTOBT OF THE SAINTS.

pose the enormous wickedness of the Mormon faith and
conduct than to join them, profess my belief in their
•* religion," win their confidence, and take an active part,
for a time, in carrying out their measures. This I did ;
and I appeal to every reader of this book whether, in view
of the facts herein stated upon indubitable evidence, the
course I took ouglit not to entitle me to the praise rather
than the censure of honorable men.

Had I been actuated by selfish and dishonorable motives,
I should have remained among the Mormons; for with
them I possessed power, wealth, and the means to gratify
every passion or desire that I might conceive. But 1 felt
myself an humble instrument in the hands of God to expose
the Impostor and his myrmidons, and to open the eyes of
my countrymen to his dark and damnable designs. I have
done my duty, and, whatever may be thought of my
motives or my conduct, I am satisfied with the approval
of my own conscience, and feel certain that I have acted
rightly and honorably.

CHARACTER OP THE AUTHOR.

Fhm S. P. HUdreth, M. /)., President of the Medical Convention
of the State of Ohio, Jantuxry 1, A, D. 1838 ; and J. CoUon^
M, D^ Presiiknl of the General Medical Society of the StaU of
Ohioy January 5, A» />. 1829.

" Marixtta, Ohio, Jtfay 25, 1831.

" To whom it may concern : —

" The undersigned with pleasure state, that they have for several
years past been acquainted with Doctor J. C. Bennett, and have
known him to be a vecy ingenious and successful practitioner of
medicine and surgery, as weU as an able writer in the Western
Medical Journal. His moral character has ever been fair and unex*
ceptionable.

" S. P. HiLDRETH,

^hiwa CoTTon."

CHABACTEB OF THE AtTTHOB. II

Ihm Thomas BwnrtO, Jr^ M.D.; J. O. Madenoriy JLM,of
TrmUy CoUegtf Dublin; and others, citizens of South Bloomr
fidd.

** SovTH Bloomfisld, Ohio, Jmuary 1, 1835.

'^ We, the undersigned, citizens of South Bloomfield, Pickaway
County, Ohio, do certiiy that we have been personally acquainted
with Doctor John C. Bennett, for more than twelve months, (and
several of us for a number of years,) during which time he sus-
iisined the character of a sober, moral man, scrupulously honest in
all his dealings ; and, in regard to his talents and professional ao-
^ qoirements, we believe them to be of the first order.

^ Isaac Cade,-
'*Tho. Burrkll, Jr.
^ Bevj. S. Olds,

** J. O. M ASTERSOir,

" Geo. R. Pipf.r,
"William Pratt,
" C. R. Bye."

Drom the President and Seerekay of the Board of Trustees of the

ffilloughby University,

"CHAaBiN, wftyiuf 90, 18M.
« J. C. Bennett, M. D.

« Dear Sir,—

" A few days since, we, as officers of the Board of
Trustees of the Willoughby University of Lake Erie, forwarded to
you an appointment as agent for said Institution; since which,
time the Board have had a meeting, at which it was agreed that we
should communicate with you on the subject of commencing nur
University bv org^izinor the Medical Dtpartment first, or, in other
words, by obtaining (if possible) two or more suitable {Arsons to
deliver a course of Lectures on Anatomy, Chemistry, &c., as soon
as the necessary arrangements can be made. It was also proposed,
at the meeting of the Board, to commence a select school, or prepar*
Btory department, as soon as a suitable person could be obtamed to
take charge of it, and circumstances justify the undertaking.

'' The Board flatter themselves that yourself and your friend Mr.
Masterson may yet feel it to be your duty to embark in this busi-
ness, and assist in building up this Institution.

^ We make the suggestion at this time for your consideration, and
the Board would be happy to hear from yon on the subject.

" On the lot Which the trustees have purchased is a large two story
dwelling-house, which could be fitted for a preparatory school, or for
chemical and anatomical lectures, at a small expense.

" The Board feel thankful for the interest which you have taken in
this Emfiryo Institution, and they flatf# themselves that sucpess will
attend your efforts in 'its behalf, and Uu^t yoa miiy yet re^eivf in
loaie way s satisfiictury lewa^ 4-

^S. AttKir, PresidiBHt.
««H. Gsuuuui, SecrOarji-"

IS HISTORT OF THE SAINTS

From fV, WtUottf^hby, M. D^ Professor ofMithn/hy in the Col'

Sn of Phfsieums and Surgeons in tht ffeiem District of
ew York,

** Faiefiild, JoMuary SO, 1835.
"My dear Sir, —

" Your communication of the Slat of December — mailed
the 4th ultimo — has this day been received, for which you wilt
receive my thankfal acknowledgments.

*' I feel undor ^^reater obligation than my feeble language can
express, to my friends of the Universitv located in your village,
that they have honored me by naming their College after me ; and
again, I am under renewed obligation to my much esteemed friends
that they should deem my name worthy of designating their town.
These testimonials of regard have made a deep impression upon my
mind — never to be forgotten. Whatever lean do to insure the
stability and prosperity of your school will be done with great
cheerfulnesfi and pleasure. If I cannot benefit your institution by
personal services, I shall not fail of bestowing something toward its
funds.

*' The contemplated period for choosing your President had passed
by ere I receivea your letter, so that 1 could not render the reasons
why my name should not be among the candidates. The President
should be one among you, live so contiguous as to be enabled to
attend all your meetings of the trustees, and exercise a paternal
care over the diversified interests of the University. These services
could not be attended to by me. I am too far removed from the
College to exercise the necessary supervision over its interests and
its welfare. I hope, therefore, the honor has fallen upon yourself,
or some other one, more able to serve you usefully than would be
possible for me to do.

'^ J promise myself the pleasure of visiting my friends in your
section of country — and tne University — the ensuinir summer, if
my health and tnat of my wife will permit. Mrs. Willoughby's
health is very bad, and I greatly fear will never be much improved.
She is labormg under hydrathorax — from organic disease of the
lungs.

" Receive, my dear sir, for yourself — for your colleagues and
the Trustees of^the University over whom you preside — my grate-
ful acknowledgments for the honors conferred upon me, with my
best wishes for your general and individual welfare. I am, my dear
sir, with sentiments of high consideration, your obliged and very
humble servant,

^*Wl8TEL WXLLOUQHBT.

" JoHW C. Bknnktt, M.t).,
President of the Medical Faculty of the
WiUoughbj UiUiwnity of Lake Erie.

»»

CHABACTEB OF TH£ AUTHOR. 13

F)ym the Msdical Class of the WULoughby University of Lake Erie.

*' WiLLOuoHBr, Ohio, February 31, A. D. 1835.

<' At a meetinff of the Medical Class of the Willoughby Univer-
sity of J^ake Erie, convened at the College Edifice, oii Saturday,
the 21st inst., the following resolution was unanimously adopted :

*^Resohedf That we, the members of the Medical Class of the Wil-
loaghby University of Lake Erie, present our thanks to John C. Ben-
nett, M.D., President of our Medical Faculty, and Professor of the
Principles and Practice of Midwifery, and the Diseases of Women and
Children, for the veryable, interesting, and scientific Course of JLec-
tures, by him delivered, during the present session, and as a feeble
testimonial of our high regard for the interest he has evinced in our
welfare and impiovement, and for his splendid talents as a teacher.

^* James Wheeler, President.

« T. F. Robinson,

«* H. Robinson, ( viee-Presi-

" Ransford Rogers, > dents

<^ Daniel Meeker,

** £. M. Gleeson,

lYom S, P. HUdreth, M, D^ President of the Medical Convention
of the State of Okio^ January 1, 1838, to Alfred Hohhy^ Esq.,
Mayor of Hocking City.

" Marietta, Ohio, Jlpra 11, A. D. 1838."

"To A. Hobby, Esq., Mayor of Hocking City.
" Dear Sir, —

*' In answer to your inquiries as to ' the acquirements
and medical knowledge of Dr. John C. Bennett, as a physician and
surffeon,' 1 with great pleasure answer, that I deem him to be well
Qualified in either branch, and that his opportunities for acquiring
knowledge in the Practice of Medicine have been equal to those oF
any other in this portion of the Slate.

" Very respectfully,

" Vour obedient servant,

" S. P. HiLDRETH."

Ih)m the JRev. John Stetvart, of the Methodist Episcopal Church,

" HocKiiTo CiTT, Ohio, JSprU 29, 1S38.
" To whom it may concern : —

•* This is to certify, that 1 have been for many years intimately
acquainted with John C. Bennett, M. D., who was in 1825 my
Family Physician ; Dr. Bennett's advantages to acquire correct

2

14 HISTORY or THE SAINTS.

medical knowledge have been very great, far superior to most phy-
sicians in this country ; and I consider him one of our most able
and accomplished physicians and surgeons.

"JoHw Stewart."

From Alfred Hobby, Esq., Mayor of Hocking CUy, Ohio.

" HocKiifo CiTT, Ohio, June 9, 1838.

" To whom it may concern : —

" I with great pleasure state, that I have long had a very intimate
acquaintance with John C. Bennett, M. D., both as a medical man,
and private citizen. I have a personal knowledge of his skilful
and dexterous professional tact in some of the major operations in
surgery, such as the extirpation of the cancerous breast; and as a
citizen I deem him a gentleman of much moral and intellectual
worth. Alfred Hobbv."

By perusing Mr. Stewart's certificate, and comparing
the foregoing dates and statements, it will be perceived
that they give a full account of my character and standing
from 1825, when I first commenced the practice of my
profession, up to June, 1838, when I removed from the
State of Ohio to the State of Illinois. On the 20th day
of February, 1839, I was unanimously elected Brigadier-
General of the Invincible Dragoons of the 2d Division
of Illinois Militia, and commissioned as follows: —

'^Thomas Carlin, Governor of the State of Illinoisi, to all to
whom these presents shall come, greeting :

"Know 3'e, That J. C. Bennett, having been duly elected to the
office of Brigadier-General of the Invincible Dragoons of the :^d
Division of the Militia of the State of Ilhnois, I, Thomas Carlin, Gov-
ernor of said State, for and on behalf of the People of said State, do
commission him Brigadier- General of Invincible Dragoons of the Sec-
ond Division of the Militia ofthe State of Illinois.to take rank from the
20th day of February, 1839. He is. therefore, carefully and diligently
to discharge the duties of said office, by doing and performing all man-
ner of things thereunto belonging; and I do strictly require all officers
and soldierH under bis command to be obedient to his orders; and
he is to obey such orders and directions as he shall receive from
time to time, from the Commander-in-Chief, or his superior officer.

" In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused
the State Seal to be affixed. Done at Vandalia, this 25th of April,
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine,
and ofthe Independence ofthe United States the sixty-third.

"Tho. Carliw.
*' By the Governor,

"A. P. Field, Secretary of State,"

CHARACTEB OF THE AUTHOB. 15

On the 20th day of July, 1840, on the nomination of
the principal military men of the State, I was appointed
Quarter-iM aster-General of the State of Illinois, and com-
missioned as follows : —

''Thomas Carliv, Governor of the State of Illinois, to all to
whom these presents shall come, greeting :

" Know ye, That J. C. Bennett having been duly appointed to the
office of Quarter- Master- General of the Militia of the State of lUi-
nois, I, Thomas Carlin, Governor of said State, for and on behalf
of the People of said State, do commission him Quarter-Master-
General, to take rank from the 20th day of July, 1840. He is,
therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duties of said
office, by doinv and performing all manner of things thereunto be-
longing ; and I do strictly require all officers and soldiers under his
command to be obedient to his orders ; and he is to obey such
orders and directions as he shall receive from time to time, from the
Commander-m-Chief, or his superior officer.

^ In testimony whereof, 1 have hereunto set my hand, and csused
the Great Seal of State to be hereunto affixed. Done at Springfield,
this 20th day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and forty, and of the Independence of the United States
the sixty-fiflh. Tuo. Caklik.

By the Governor,

"A. P. Field, Secretary of State "

ii

" Appointment bt the Governor. — Brigadier- General John
C. Bennett to be Quarter-Master-General of the militia of the State
of Illinois, from the 20th day of July.

" In making the above appointment, the Governor has selected
an able, energetic and efficient officer. The duties that will devolve
on him, perhaps no man in the State is better qualified to fill, and
ve have no doubt he will render due justice to the office which he
has been selected to superintend. — Wabash Reyvhlicany^ as quoted
in Times and Seasons^ No. 12, p. 190.

Official Documents, shoieing that 1 vhjs in acttud Service in (he

^atcj as a State OJker,

** ORDKAirCB OfFICS, )

** Washikoton, October 23, 1840. )

'^ J. 0. Bennett, Esq. Qr. Master Genl. Illinois Ma. Nauvoo, 111.

" Sir, —

"Capt. Wra. H. Bell, the officer in command of the St.
Louis Arsenal, has been instructed to supplv the artillery, small
arms, &c., specified in your requisition of the 26th ult., received
yesterday. The order will, no doubt, be filled immediately.
"I am, respectfully,

" Your obedient servant,

" G. Talcott, Lt. Col Ord:

}6 HISTOBT OF THE SAINTS.

''To His Excellency Thomas Cabxin.
«» Sir, —

" The following Resolution has passed the House of Rep-
resentatives.

** ^Resolved, That the Governor be requested to furnish this House
with a statement of the arms and accoutrements belonging to the
State; the amount of the same, and where stationed, and how the
companies bringing themselves under the regulation of the militia
law, can be furnished with the same, and at what point, and that he
report to this House as soon as suits his convenience/

" Respectfully,

" Jno. Calhouit,

** Clerk of the House of Representatives.
^February 16, 1841.>>

" Dkpaktmxitt or Stats, )

" Spktitofisld, Illinois, 16 February, 1841. ]

" To John C. Bennett, Quarter-Master- General of the Militia of

the State of Illinois :
** Sir, —

*< Enclosed I have the honor to send you a copy of a Resolution
of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State
of Illinois, now in session, calling on me for information relative to
the number and kind of arms, belonging to the State, their present
location, as also the points where companies in this State can be
furnished with the same.

** I have to request that you will report to me, so far as the infor-
mation desired is in your possession, that I may lay the same before
the House from which said Resolution emanated.
^ I have the honor to be, sir,

** Your most obedient servant.

" Tho. Carlin."

« MEDICAL CONVENTION OF ILLINOIS,

*^ To the Medical Profession of Illinois.

*^ At a meeting of a number of the Physicians and Surgeons of the
State of Illinois, convened in Springfield, on the 9th of June, 1840,
for tlie purpose of making preliminary arrangements for the organi-
zation of a State Medical Society, the undersigned were appointed
a committee of correspondence, and, as such, directed to address
you on that subject. It was proposed that the medical men of the
State of Illinois, should assemble in Convention, at Springfield, on
the first Monday of December next, and then and there proceed to
the complete organization of the Illinois State Medical Society •—
the Convention to be composed of one or more delegates from each
County in the State. This proposition was unanimously adopted ;
and we now call upon you to cooperate with us in tlie consumma-
tion of so desirable a result. Hitherto we have been like a vessel
east upon a boisteroiis ocean, without compass or helm ; we have

1

<

CHARACTER Ol* THS ACTHOR. 17

meted ■olitary and alone, without harmony or concert ; but when we
see hundredfl of our fellowocitizenfl and wonhy friends, annually
•acrtfioed by the empirical prescriptions of charlatan practitioners,
on the altartt of ignorance, erected within the very temple of iE:iCU-
lapius, by i^ude and unskilful hands, is it not time for us to act? —
We think so : not, however, by declaring war against mountebanks
and uneducated pretenders to the art of healing within our borders ;
but b^ digesting a plan that shall be calculated in its legitimate
operations to benefit the people, instruct the unlearned, improve
ourselves, and elevate the entire profession above all mercenary
considerations to a station of superior mental, moral and medical
excellence. Already do our forests groan under the axeman's hand,
and our prairies swarm with a busy, free and enterprising popula-
tion ; in Agriculture and Commerce, we are rapidly approximating
to the level of the oldest States ; our citizens are rearing Colleges
and Universities for mental culture ; our Divines and Lawyers have
already attained a high rank and an elevated standing ; and, shall
medicine be wholly neglected ? Is law of more consequence than
medicine, or property more valuable than life P If not, let us not be
behind our sister States in our efforts to improve our profession,
and place it on a level with that of law. We ask not the protection
of legal power, nor do we require the strong arm of legislative
enactment to sustain us. We place ourselves before the public on
our true merits, having a strong and abiding confidence in the
wisdom of the people. All we require is a concerted effort, to ena-
ble us to diffuse true and useful medical knowledge — and this we
ask. It is due to the profession and to humanity, now, and in all
time to come. We hope then to see a general attendance on the
day proposed. *'J. C. Bennett, of Fairfield.

" C. V. DvER, of Chicago.

"A. W. BowENf of Juliet.

•• M . Helm, of Springfield.

"E. H. Merrtman, do.

« F. A. McNeil, do.

"J.Todd, do.

" W. S. Wallace, do.

" D. Turkey, of Fairfield.

" C. F. Hughes, of Rochester.
1 " I. S. Berry, of Vandalia.

"B.H.Hart, of Alton."

Times and Seasons^ Vol. I. No. II, p. 174.

Fhm CoL M A*. SndUu

*« Wabash, JtuguHfU, A^D. 1840.
" General Beknett :
" Dear Friend, —

" Yours of last week was duly received, and attended
to. You speak of going to the north in a few days, but whether on
business, or to chan^ your residence, does not appear. 1 hope you
do not intend leaving this county, as your business prospects aie

I

1

18 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

good, and your professional services much required. 1 have beard
that you intended winding up your business, and quitting our
county, and this section of Illinois, but 1 supposed your visit to the
north an official one, pertaining to your state appointment. Please
write me before you start.

" Respectfully yours,

« N. N. Smith."

This gives an account of my standing up to the time
of my removal to Nauvoo, in September, 1840. On the
5th day of February, 1841, I was unanimously elected
Major-General of the Nauvoo Legion, and commissioned
as follows : —

" Thomas Carlin, Governor of the State of Illinois, to all to
whom these presents shall come, greeting :

" Know ye, That John C. Bennett having been duly elected to the
office of Major-General of the Nauvoo Legion of the Militia of the
State of Illinois, I, Thomas Carlin, Governor of said State, for and
on behalf of the I?eople of said State, do commission him Major-
General of said Legion, to take rank from the 5th day of February,
3841. He is, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the
duties of said office, by doing and performing all manner of things
thereunto belonging ; and I do strictly require all officers and soldiers
under his command to be obedient to his ordeis; and he is to obey
such orders and directions as he shall receive from time to time from
the Commander-in-Chief, or his superior officer.

" In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set mv hand, and caused
the Great Seal of State to be hereunto affixed. Done at Springfield,
this 16tb day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and forty-one, and of the Independence of the United
States the sixty-fiflh.

" Tho. Carlin.
" By the Governor,

" S. A. Douglass, Secretary of State.'*

The following letter from General Scott to Judge
Toung, one of the United States Senators from Illinois,
shows clearly that I coitld legally officiate in the offices of
Major-General and Quarter-M aster-General of Illinois at
the same time, and other official documents will show
that I did so officiate.

*< War Office, Jiugtut 4, 1841.
" Dear Sir,—

" I hasten to reply to your letter of yesterday.
*' You state this case ; — General J. C. Bennett, being the Quarter-
Master- General of lUinois, (it is prentnud with the rank of Brig*

CHARACTEB OF THE AUTHOR. 19

adier-General,) he is elected, in a separate organization of a portion
of the State, a Major- Greneral, and coinmissioned accordiaglj.

" The professional question put to me, is — Are the two offices
incompatible with each other? — in otner words, Does the accept-
ance of the second vacate the first ?

" I answer — Not necessarily ; — not unless there be something
express to that effect in the constitution or laws of Illinois. The
first office is in the general staff of the State ; the second in the line
of the militia generally, or in the line of the separate organization.

"For example; — (xeneral Jesup is the Quarter-Master-General
of the United States arniy, which gives him, from the date of
appointment, the rank of Brigadier- (^neral under one act of Con-
gress, and under another, for ten years' faithful services in that
rank, he was made a Major- Greneral by brevet. . As Quarter-Master-
General he serves as Brigadier-General : in all other situations,
that is, ozU of the staffs his other commission makes him a Major-
Gene ral.

" If the law of Illinois does not give the rank of Brigadier, or
Major- General, to the officer appointed Quarter-Master- General,
there is not even the show of incompatibility between the two com-
missions of General J. C. Bennett in the statement laid before me.

" It will be understood, of course, that, as Major- General of the
army, I do not presume to have the least possible authority over
questions arising in the militia, under the laws of the particuligr
States. I venture merely to give, for what it may be worth, my
professional opinion on a point submitted to me. . j

*' I have the honor to remain, Sir,
" With great respect,

" Tour most obedient servant,

" WiNFiELD Scott.

" Hon. R. M. Young,

^\Vnited States Senate.''

On the 1st day of February, 1841, I was unanimously
elected Mayor of the city of Nauvoo, and commissioned
as follows : —

" Thomas Carlin, Governor of the State of Illinois, to all to
whom these presents shall come, greeting :

" Know ye, that John C. Bennett having been duly elected to the
office of Mayor of the city of Nauvoo, in the county" of Hancock,
I, Thomas Carlin, Governor of the State of Illinois, for and on
behalf of the People of said State, do commission him Justice of
the Peace for said city in said county, and do authorize and em-
power him to execute and fulfil the duties of that office according
to law.

" And to have and to hold the said office, with all the rights and
emoluments thereunto legally iappertaining, until his successor shall
be duly elected and qualified to office.

80 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

" In teBtimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused
the Great Seal of State to be hereunto affized. Done at Spring-
field, this 22d day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and forty-one, and of th6 Independence of the United
States the sixty-fiflh.

" Tho. Carlin.
•* By the Governor,

<' lirMAK Trumbull, 5«crefary of SCa/tf."

On the 3d of February, 1841, I delivered to the City
Council, in the presence of a large assembly, the following

INAUGURAL ADDRESS,

** CiTT OF Nautoo, Illinois, Febnuary 3, 1841.

" Gentlemen of the City Council ;

Aldermen and Councillors :

" Having been elected to the Maj^oralty of this city by the unan-
imous sutmiges of all parties and interests, I now enter upon the
duties devolving upon me as your Chief Magistrate under a deep
sense of the responsibilities of the station. — I trust that the confi-
dence reposed in me, by my fellow-citizens, has not been misplaced,
and for tne honor conferred they will accept my warmest sentiments
of ^ratitudu By the munificence and wise legislation of noble,
high-mindel^ and patriotic statesmen, and the grace of God, we
have been blessed with one of the most lib^al corporate acts ever
granted by a legislative assembly. As the presiding officer of the
law-making department of the municipal government, it will be
expected that 1 communicate to you, from time to time, by oral or
written messages, for your deliberative consideration and action,
such matters as may suggest themselves to me in relation to the

{mblic weal ; and upon this occasion I beg leave to present the fol-
owing as matters of paramount importance.

'«The 21st Sec. of the addenda to the 13th Sec. of the City
Charter concedes to you plenary power * to tax, restrain, prohibit
and suppress, tippling-houses, dram-shops,' etc. etc., and I now
recommend, in the strongest possible terms, that you take prompt,
strong, and decisive measures to ^prohibit and suppress* all such
establishments. It is true you have the power ' to tax,' or license
and tolerate^ them, and thus add to the city finances; but I consider
it much better to raise revenue by an ad vaforem tax on the property
of sober men, than by licensing dram-shops, or taxing^ the signs of
the inebriated worshippers at the shrine of Bacchus. The revels of
bacchanalians in the houses of blasphemy and noise will always
prove a disgrace to a moral people. Pubiie smUimerU will do much
to suppress the vice of intemperance, and its concomitant evil
results ; but amp*<! experience has incontrovertibly proven that it
cannot do aU — the law must be brought to the rescue, and an
effective prohibitory ordinance enacted. This cannot be done at a
better time than the present. Let us eommtnct correctly, and the

CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOR. SI

great work of refbrm, at least so far as our peaceful city is con-
cerned, can be saininarily cousuin mated. It would be difficult to
calculate the vast amount of evil and crime that would be prevented,
and the great good that would accrue to the public at large by
fostering the cause of temperance ; but suffice it to say that the one
would i;^ commensurate to the other. — No sales of spirituous liquors
whatever, in a less quantity than a quart, except in cases of sickness,
on the recommendation of a physician or surge<>n duly accredited
by the Chancellor and Regents of the University, should be tol-
erated. The liberty of selling the intoxicating cup is Vi false liberty
— it enslaves, degrades, destroys, and wretchedness and want are
attendant on every step, — its touch, like that of the poisan Upas,
is Dkatm. Liberty to do good should be cheerfully and freely
accorded to every man ; but liberty to do evil, which is licentious-
ness, should be peremptorily prohibited. The public good imperi-
ously demands it — and the cause of humanity pleads for help.
The protecting (Bgis of the corporation should oe thrtiwn around
every moral and religious institution of the dav, which is in any
way calculated to ennoble, or ameliorate the condition of the human
family.

" The immediate organization of the University, as contemplated
in the 24th Sec. of the act incorporating our city, cannot be too
forcibly impressed upon you at this time. — As all raattt^rs in rela-
tion to mental culture, and public instruction, from common schools
up to the highest brandies of a full collegiate course in the Arts,
Sciences, and Learned Professions, will devolve upon the Chan-
cellor and Regents of the University, they should be speedily
elected, and instructed to perfect their plan, and enter upon its
execution with as little delay as possible. The wheels of education
should never be clogged, or retrograde, but roll progressively Trom
the Ji'pha to the Omega of a most perfect, liberal, and thorough
course of universitv attainments. The following observations m
relation to false education, from Alexander's Messenger, so per-
fectly accord with my feelings and views on this highly important
subject, that I cannot do better than incorporate them in this
message.

" ' Among the changes for the worse, which the world has wit-
nessed within the last century, we include that specious, superficial,
incomplete way of doing certain things, which were formerly
thought to be deserving of care, labor, and attention. It would
seem that appearance is now considered of nxore moment than
reality. The modern mode of education is as example in point.
Children are so instructed as to acquire a smattering of every thing;
and, as a matter of consequence, they know nothing properly.
Seminaries and academies deal out their moral and natural philos-
ophy, their geometry, trigonometry, and astronomy, their chem-
istry, botany, and mineralogy, until the mind of the pupil becomes
a chaos ; and, like the stomach when it is overloaded with a variety
of food, it digests nothing, but converts the superabundant nutri-
ment to poison. This mode of education answers one purpose :-—
it enables people to sum learned ; and seemingly, by a great many,

82 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

is thought all-sufficient. Thus we are schooled in quackery, and
are early taught to regard showy and superficial attainments as most
desirable. Every boarding school Miss is a Plato in petticoats,
without an ounce of that genuine knowledge, that true philosophy,
which would enable her to be useful in the world, and to escape
those perils with which she must necessarily be encompassed.
Young people are taught to use a variety of hard terms, which they
understand but imperfectly; — to repeat lessons which they are un-
able to apply; — to astonish their grandmothers with a display of
their parrot-like acquisitions ; — but their mental energies are clogged
and torpified with a variety of learned lumber, most of which is dis-
carded from the brain long before its possessor knows how to use it.
This is the quackery of education.

" ' The effects of the erring system are not easily obliterated.
The habit of using words without thought, sticks to the unfortunate
student through nfe, and should he ever learn to think, he cannot
express his ideas without the most tedious and perplexing verbosity.
This is, more or less, the fault of every writer m the nineteenth
century. The sense is encumbered with sound. The scribbler
appears to imagine that if he puts a sufficient number of words
together he has done his part ; and, alas ! how many books are
written on this principle. Thus literature, and even science itself,
is overloaded with froth and flummery. Verbalizing has become
fashionable and indispensable, and one line from an ancient author
will furnish the materials for a modern treatise.'

<* Our University should be a ''utilitarian' institution — and com-
petent, industrious, teachers, and professors, should be immediately
elected for the several departments. ' Knowledge is power,' — foster
education and we are (orever free! Nothing can be done which is
more certainly calculated to perpetuate the free institutions of our
common country, for which our progenitors * fought and bled, and
died,' than the general diffusion of useful knowledge amongst the
people. Education should always be of a purely ^oc^icoZ character,
for such, and such alone, is calculated to perfect the happiness, and
prosperity, of our fellow-citizens — ignorance, impudence, and false
Knowledge, are equally detestable, — shame and confusion follow in
their train. As you now possess the power, afford the most ample
facilities t« the Regents to make their plan complete ; and thus
enable them to set a glorious example to the world at large. The
most liberal policy should attend the organization of the University,
and equal honors and privileges should be extended to all classes of
the community.

** In order to carry out the provisions of the 25th Sec. of the act
incorporating our city, I would recommend the immediate organiza-
tion of the Xegion. Comprising, as it does, the entire military
power of our city, with a provision allowing any citizen of Han-
cock county to unite by voluntary enrolment, early facilities should
be aflbrded the Court Martial for perfecting their plan of drill,
rules, and regulations. Nothing is more Aec<'ssary to the preserva-
tion of order, and the supremacy of the laws, than the perfect
organization of our military forces, under a unifprm and rigid dis-

CHARACTER OF TH£ AUTHOR. 23

eipline, and approved judicious drill ; and to this end I desire to lee
ail the departments, and cohorts of the Legion put in immediate
requisition. The Legion should be all powerful, panoplied with
juatice and equity, to consummate the designs of its projectors —
at all times ready, as minute men, to serve the state in such way
and manner as may, from time to time, be pointed out by the
Governor. You have long sought an opportunity of showing your
attachment to the state government of Illinois — it is now afforded:
the Legion should maintain the constitution and the laws, and be
ready at all times for the public defence. The winged warrior of
the air perches upon the pole of American liberty, and the beast
that has the temerity to ruffle her feathers should be made to feel
the power of her talons; and until she ceases to be our proud
national emblem we should not cease to show our attachment to
Illinois. Should the tocsin of alarm ever be sounded, and the
Legion called to the tented field by our Executive, I hope to see it
able, under one of the proudest mottos that ever blazed upon a
warrior's shield — SictU patribus sit Deus nobis ; as God was with
our 'fathers, so may he be with us — to fight the battles of our
country, as victors, and as freemen : the juice of the uva, or the
spirit of insubordination should never enter our camp, — but we
should stand, ever stand, as a united people — one and indivisible.

^* I would earnestly recommend the construction of a wing-dam
in the Mismssippi, at the mouth of the ravine at or near tlie head
of Main Street, and the excavation of a ship-canal from that point
to a point terminating in di grand reservoir on the bank of said river,
east of the foot of said street a distance of about two miles. This
would afford, at the various outlets, the most ample water power
for propelling any amount of machinery for^mill and manufacturing
purposes, so essentially necessary to the building up of a great
commercial citv in the heart of one of the most productive and de-
lightful countries on earth. 1 would advise that an agent be imme-
diately appointed on behalf of the city corporation, to negotiate
with eastern capitalists for the completion of this great work, on
the most advantageous terms, even to the conveyance of the privi-
lege for a term of years. This work finished, and the future great-
ness of this city is placed upon an imperishable basis. In addition
to the great advantages that will otherwise accrue to the city and
country by the construction of this noble work, it would afford the
best harbor for steam-boats, for winter quarters, on this magnificent
stream.

*' The public health requires that the low lands, bordering on the
Mississippi, should be immediately drained, and the entire timber
removed. This can and will be one of the most healthy cities in
the west, provided you take prompt and decisive action in the
premises. A Board of Health should be appointed and vested with
the usual powers and prerogatives.

*'Tbe Governor, Council of Revision, and Legislature of Illinois,
should be held in everlasting remembrance by our people — they
burst the chains of slavery and proclaimed us forever free ! A vote
of thanks, couched in the strongest language possible, should be
tendered them in our corporate capacity ', and, when this is done,

24 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

Quincy, our first noble city of refuge, when you came from the
slaughter in Missouri with your garments stained with blood, should

not be forgotten. . , ^

" As the Chief Magistrate of your city I am determmea to exe-
cute all state laws, and city ordinances passed in pursuance to law,
to the very letter, should it require the strong arm of military power
to enable me to do so. As an. officer I know no man ; the peaceful
unoffending citizen shall be protected in the full exercise of all his
civil, political, and religious rights, and the guilty violator of law
shall be punished without respect to persons.
"All of which is respectfully submitted.

"John C. Bennett."
Times and Seasons, Vol. II., No. 8, p. 316.

On the 3d day of February, 1841, I was unanimously
elected Chancellor of the University of the City of Nauvoo,
as will hereafter appear.

" We are glad to see the action of the Council on the subject of
education ; and that they have chosen a Board of Regents, and
appointed a Chancellor and Registrar for the ' University of the City
of Nauvoo.' The appointment, we think, does great credit to the
Council, and, we have no dpubt but that the board will assiduously
engage in the great and all-important work of education "

Times and Seasons, Vol. II., No. 8, p. 319.

" AN ORDINANCE, ORGANIZING THE ' UNIVERSITY OF THE

CITY OF NAUVOO.*

" Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Nau-
voo, That the ' University of the City of Nauvoo,' be, and the same
is hereby organized, b\' the appointment of the following Board of
Trustees, to*wit: John C. Bennett, Chancellor, William Law. Regis-
trar, and Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, William
Marks, Samuel H. Smith, Daniel H. Wells, N. K. Whitney, Charles
C. Rich, John T. Barnett, Wilson Law, Don C. Smith, John P.
Greene, Vinson Knight, Isaac Galland, EHias Higbee, Robert D.
Foster, James Adams, Robert B. Thompson, Samuel Bennett,
Ebenezer Robinson, John Snider, George Miller, and Lenos M.
Knight, Regents ; who shall hereafter constitute the * Chancellor
and Regepts of the University of the City of Nauvoo,' as contem-
plated in the 24th section of * An act to incorporate the City of
Nauvoo,' approved December 16, 1840.

" Sec. 2. Tlie Board named in the 1st section of this ordinance
shall hold its first meeting at the office of Joseph Smith, on Tuesday,
the 9th day of February, 1841, at 2 o'clock, P. M.

" Sec. 3. This ordinance shall take effect, and be in force, from
and after its passage.

" Passed, Feb. 3d, A. D. 1841.

"John C. Benrett, Mayor

"James Sloan, Recorder.**

CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOR. 25

« COMMON SCHOOL BOOKS ADOPTED.
** Extradfrom the Minutes of the Board o/BegenU.

" Universitt of the City of Nauvoo, )
Illinois, December 18, A. D. 1841. (

•• Gentlemen of the Board of Regents :

*' Permit me to pre^nt for your a-Doption, the following series
of l>ooks for Common Schools, which I have carefully selected and
approved^ to wit: — Town's Spelling Book ; Town's Introduction to
Analysis; Town's Analysis; M'Vickar's Political Economy for
Schools; Help to Young Writers; Girl's Reading Book, by Mrs.
Si^ourney; Boy's Readmg Book, by Mrs. Sigourney; Bennett's
Arithmetic ; Bennett's Book Keeping ; Kirkhain's English Gram-
mar ; Olney's Geography.

'^ John C. Bennett, Chancellor.

" Adopted as follows, to' wit : —

"Yeas — Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Charles C. Rich, Heber

C. Kimball, John Taylor, N. K. Whitney, Samuel H. Smith, John
Snider, Wm, Marks, Ebenezer Robinson, Elias Higbee, (Regents,)
William Law, (Registrar,) John C. Bennett, (Chancellor,) 13.

" Nays — None.

"Absent — Sidney Rigdon, Daniel H. Wells, John T. Barnett,
Wilson Law, John r. Green, Vinson Knight, Isaac Galland, Robert

D. Foster, James Adams, Samuel Bennett, George Miller, Lenos
M. Knight, (Regents,) 12."

Times and Seasons, Vol. IIL, No. 5, p. 652.

. On the 6th day of May, A. D. 1841 ^ I was appointed
Master in Chancery for Hancock County, as follows : —

" Know all men by these presents. That I, Stephen A. Dougrlass,
Justice of the Supreme Court, and presiding Judge of the Fifth Ju-
dicial Circuit of the State of Illinois, do constitute and appoint John
C. Bennett, Esq., Master in Chancery, in and for the County of
Hancock, in said State, and do authorize and impower him to have,
exercise and enjoy, all the rights, privileges and emoluments per-
taining to said oifice of Master in Chancery. *

'* Given under my hand and seal, this 6th day of May, A. D. 1841.

" S. A. Douglass, [seal.] "

"Statb of Illinois,)
Hancock County. \
" This day, personally appeared before the undersigned, Judge of
the Fiflh Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois, John C. Bennett,
Esq , who, being 6rst duly sworn, declared .that he would faithfully
support the Constitution of the United States and of this State, and
that he would faithfully discharge his duties as Master in Chancery,
according to the best of his knowledge, skill and understanding.
" Given under my hand and seal, Uiis 6th day of May, A. D. 1841.

" S. A. 0(ID(U.A8s, [seal.] "

a

S6 HISTOBT OF THE SAINTS.

On the 7th day of April, 1841 , I was elected to the
First Presidency of the Af ormon Church, as will be seen
by reference to the conference minutes, published in the
•' Times and Seasons," (the official Mormon paper, edited
by Joe Smith, the Prophet, assisted by John Taylor, the
Apostle,) Vol. II., No. 12, page 387, from which I extract
the following : —

" Gren. J. C. Bennett was presented with the First Presidency, as
Assistant President, until President Rigdon's health should be re-
stored."

MORMON TESTIMONY, UP TO THE TIME OF, AND
SUBSEQUENT TO, MY WITHDRAWAL FROM THE
CHURCH.

« < The Quarter-xMaster-General of Illinois, (Dr. J. C. Bennett) has
joined the Mormons and been baptized accoj^ing to their faith.
IJnder such a leader they will no doubt be able to whip the Mis-
sourians in the next campaign.' — Louisville Journal,

^^Very liberal^ Mr. Editor: But the ^next campaign* belong to
the PEOPLE, and unless they arise with one voice and avenge the
wrongs of an innocent and much injured community — farewell to
LIBERTY — she has fled forever, and mohocraia bear rule." — Times
and Seasons^ Vol. II., No. 3, p. S!IM.

"IT/' Great Moral Victory' — The high grounds taken by
our Mayor, General Bennett, in relation to the great work of tem-
perance reform, have been fully sustained by the City Council.
President Joseph Smith, chairman of the committee to whom was
referred that part of the inaugqral address of His Honor, the Mayor,
which relates to Temperance^ reported the following Ordinance to
the City Council on the 15th instant, which was elaborately dis-
cussed Dy Aldermen Wells and Whitney, and Councillors J. Smith,
H. Smith, Rigdon, Law, and Greene, and in Committee of the
Whole, by His Honor, and afler dispensing with the rules, read
three several times, and passed unanimously.

** This ordinance passed by ayes and noes, on the call of Coun-
cillor Barnett, as follows : —

»* Yeas — Aldermen Wells, Smith, Marks and Whitney — Coun-
cillors Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Don C. Smith, Rigdon, Law,
Rich, Barnett, Greene, and Knight — and the Mayor — 14. (Full
Council.)

"Nays — None!

" Thus has the City of Nauvoo set a glorious example to the
world — sustained by firitKiple<f and the Great Goo ; to wit * -

CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOR. 27

"AN ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO TEMPERANCE.

" Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Nau-
TOO, That all persons and establishments whatever, in this City, are
prohibited from vending whisky in a less quantity than a gallon, or
other spirituous liquors m a less quantity than a quart, to any person
whatever, excepting on the recommendation of a Physician dulv
accredited, in writing, bv the * Chancellor and Regents of the jUni-
versily of the City of Nauvoo,' and any person guilty of any act
contrary to the prohibition contained in this ordinance, shall, on
conviction thereof before the Mayor, or Municipal Court, be fined
in any sum not exceeding, twenty -jSve dollars, at the discretion of
said Mayor, or Court ; and any person or persons who shall attempt
to evade this ordinance by giving away liquor, or by any other
means, shall be considered alike amenable, and fined as aforesaid.

** Sec. 2. This ordinance, to take effect, and be in force, from and
after its pass^e.

" Passed, Feb. 15th, A. D. 1841.

^ John C. Bennett, Mayor.

*^ James Sloan, Recorder.'*

^' * Gen. J. C. Bennett, a very popular and deserving man, has been
elected Mayor of Nauvoo, Hancock county.' — Chicago Democrat.

**• We cheerfully respond to the above statement respecting our
worthy Mayor, and we are indeed glad that any of our friends of
the press, can nobly come forward and award to faithfulness and
integrity their due, even if found in a Mormon.

*' We would sav, that if untiring diligence to aid the afflicted
and the oppressed, zeal for the promotion of literature and intel-
ligence, and a virtuous and consistent conduct, are evidences of
popularity, &c., we venture to say that no man deserves the appel-
lations of ' popular and deserving ' more than €ren. J. C. Bennett."

Times and Seasons, Vol. II., No. 10, p. 351.

«« LAYING THE CORNER STONE OP THE TEMPLE.
GENERAL CONFERENCE.

" * Oh ! that I could paint the scenet
Which on my heart are sketchM.'

** The general conference of the Church, together with the laying
of the corner stones of the Temple of our God, now building in this
city, have long been anticipated by the saints of the Most High,
both far and near, with great pleasure, when they should once more
behold the foundation of li house laid, in which they might worship
the God of their fathers.

' <* It frequently happens, that our anticipations of pleasure and
delight, are raised to such a height that even exceeds the enjoyment
itself, but we are happy to say, this was not the case with the im
mense multitude who witnessed the proceedings of the sixth of
April, and subsequent days of conference. The scenes were of such
a character, the enjoyment so intense, that left anticipation far behind.

S8 BISTORT or THE SAII7TS.

*' However, anxious we are to portray the grandeur and majesty
of the celebrations, the union and order which every way prevailedf,
we are confident, we shall come very far short of doing them
justice.

~"For some days prior to the sixth, the accession of strangers to
our city was great, and on the wide-spread prairie, which bounds
our city, might be seen various kinds of vehicles wending their way
from ciifferent points of the compass to the city of Nauvoo, while
the ferry-boats on the Mississippi were constantlv employed in
wafling travellers across its rolling and extensive bosom.

" Among the citizens, all was bustle and preparation, anxious to
accommodate their friends who flocked in u-om distant parts, and
who they expected to share with them the festivity of the day, and
the pleasures of the scene.

" At length the long-expected morn arrived, and before the king
of day had tipped the eastern horizon with his rays, were prep-
arations for the celebration of the day going on. Shortly after sun-
rise, the loud peals from the artillery were heard, calling the various
companies of the Legion to the field, who were appointed to take a
conspicuous part in uie day's proceedings.

"The citizens from the vicinity, now began to pour in from all
quarters, a continuous train, for about three hours, and continued to
swell the vast assembly.

" At eight o'clock, A. M.,Major-General Bennett lefl his quarters
to organize and prepare the Legion for the duties of the day, which
consisted of about fourteen companies, several in uniform, besides
several companies from Iowa, and other parts of the county, which
joined tliem on the occasion.

" At half past nine, Lieut. General Smith was informed that the
Legion was organized and ready for review, and immediately acr
companied by his staff, consisting of four Aids-de-camp, and twelve
guards, nearly all in splendid uniforms, took his march to the parade
ground. On their approach, they were met by the band, beautifully
equipped, who received them with a flourish of trumpets and a
regular salute, and then struck up a lively air, marching in front to
the stand of the Lieut. General. On his approach to the parade
ground the artillery was again fired, and the Legion gave an ap-
propriate sal,ute while passing. This was indeed a glorious sight,
such as we never saw, nor did we ever expect to see such a one in
the west. The several companies, presented a beautiful and inter-
esting spectacle, several of them being uniformed and equipped^
while the rich and costly dresses of the officers, would have become
a Bonaparte or a Washington.

" After the arrival of Lieut. General Smith, the ladies who had
made a beautiful silk flag, drove up in a carriage to present it to the
Legion. Maj. General Bennett, very politely attended on them,
and conducted them in front of Lieut. General Smith, who im-
mediately alighted from his charger, and walked up to the ladies,
who presented the flaff, ipaking an appropriate address. Lieut.
General Smith, acknowledged the honor conferred upon the Legion,
snd stated that as long as he had the command, it should never b«

CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOR. 529

disgraced ; and then politely bowing to the ladies gave it into the
hands of Maj. General Bennett, who placed it in possession of
Comet Robinson, and it was soon seen gracefully waving in front
of the Legion. During the time of presentation, the band struck
up a lively air and another salute was fired from the artillery.

** After the presentation of the flag, Lieut. General Smith, accom-
panied by his suite, reviewed the Legion, which presented a very
imposing appearance, the different officers saluting as he passed.
Lieut. General Smitli then took his former stand and the whole
Legion by companies passed before him in review.

THE PROCESSION.

" Immediately after the review, Gen. Bennett organized the pro-
cession, to inarch to the foundation of the Temple, m the following
order ; to wit :

Lieut. Gen. Smith,

BrifiT. Generals Law and Smith,

AiOB-de-Camp, and conspicuous

strangers.

General Staff,

Band,

2nd Cohort, (foot troops,)

Ladies eight abreast,

Gentlemen, eight abreast,

1st Cohort, (horse troops.)

" Owing to the vast numbers who joined in the procession, it was
a considerable length of time before the whole could be organized.

** The procession then began to move forward in order, and on
their arrival at the Temple block, the Generals with their stafi's and
the distinguished strangers present, took their position inside of the
foundation, the ladies formed on the outside immediately next the
walls, the gentlemen and infantry behind, and the cavalry in the
rear.

^ The assembly bein^ stationed, the choristers, under the super-
intendence of B. S. Wilber, sung an appropriate hymn.

"Prest. Rigdon, then ascended the platform, which had been
prepared for Sie purpose, and delivered a suitable

ORATION, ,

which was listened to with the most profound attention by the
assembly. From the long affliction and weakness of body we
hardly expected the speaker to have made himself heard by the
congregation, but he succeeded beyond our most sanguine expecta-
tions, and being impressed with the greatness and solemnities of the
occasion, he rose superior to his afflictions and weakness, and for
more than an hour occupied the attention of the assembly.

** It was an address worthy a man of God, and a messenjgrer of
salvation. We have heard the speaker on other occasions when he
has been more eloquent, when there has been more harmony and
beauty in the construction of his sentences, and when the refined

3»

30 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

ear has been more delighted ; but never did we hear him pour ont
such pious effusions ; in short it was full to overflowingr, of Christian
feeling and high-toned piety.

" He called to review the scenes of tribulation- and anguish
through which the Saints had passed, the barbarous cruelties in-
flicted upon them for their faith and attachment to the cause of
their God, and for the testimony of Jesus, which, they endured with
patience, knowing that they had m heaven a more enduring sub-
stance, a crown of eternal glory.

" In obedience to the commandments of their Heavenly Father,
and because that Jesus had again spoken from the heavens, were
they engaged in laying the foundation of the Temple that the Most
High might have a habitation, and where the Saints might assemble
to pay their devotions to his holy name.

" He rejoiced at the glorious prospect which presented itself of
soon completing the edifice, as there were no mobs to hinder them
in their labors, consequently their circumstances were very different
than before.

" After the address, the choir sung a hymn. Prest. Rigdon then
invoked the blessings of Almighty God upon the assembly, and
upon those who should labor on the building.

" The First Presidency superintended the laying of the

CHIEF CORNEE STONE,

on the south-east corner of the building, which done, Prest. J.
Smith arose and said, that the first corner stone of the Temple of
Almighty God was laid, and prayed that the building might soon
be completed, that the Saints might have an habitation to worship
the God of their fathers.

" Prest. D. C. Smith and his Councillors, of the Hi^h Priests*
Quorum, then repaired to the south west corner, and laid the cor-
ner stone thereof.

" The High Council, representing the Twelve laid the north-west
corner stone.

" The Bishops with their Councillors laid the north-east corner
stone with due solemnities.

" The ceremony of laying the corner stones being over, the Le-
gion marched to tne parade ground, and formed a hollow square for
an address. Maj. General Bennett addressed the Legion at some
length, applauding them for their soldierlike appearance, and for
the attention which both officers and men had given to the orders.

" Lieutenant-General Smith likewise expressed his entire appro-
bation of the conduct of the Legion and all present.

** The assembly then separated with cheerful hearts, and thanking
God for the great blessings of peace and prosperity by which they
were surrounded, and hearts burning with affection for their favorite
and adopted state.

** It was indeed a gladsome sight, and extremely affecting, to see
the old revolutionary patriots, who had been driven from their
homes in Missouri, strike hands and rejoice together, in a land
where they knew they would be protected from mobs, and where

CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOR. 81

they could ag&in enjoy the liberty for which they had fought many
a hard battle.

** The day was indeed propitious — heaven and earth combined to
make, the scene as glorious as possible, and long, very long, will the
6th of April, A. D. 1841, be remembered by the many thousands
who were present.

*^ The whole passed off with perfect harmony and good feeling.
The people were truly of one heart and mind, no contention or dis-
cord ; even persons unconnected with the Church forgot their pre-
judices, and for once took pleasure in the society of the Saints,
admired their order and unanimity, and undoubtedly received favor-
able impressions by their visit.

'* Too much praise cannot be given to Maj. General Bennett for his
active services on the occasion : he has labored diligently for the
prosperity of the city, and particularly for the Legion, and it must
nave been a proud day for him, and entirely satisfactory, to see his
efforts crowned with success, and his labor so well bestowed.

"R. B. Thompson."
TtTnes and Seasons, Vol. XL, No. 12, p. 380.

" IMPORTANT.
**Dr. Bennett is of the opinion that most of the bilious affections
to which our citizens are subjected during the hot season, can be
prevented by the free use of the Tomato — we are of the same opin-
ion, and as health is essential to our happiness and prosperity as a
people, we would earnestly recommend its culture to our fellow-cit-
izens, and its general use for culinary purposes. Do not neglect it."

Times and Seasons, Vol. II., No. 13, p. 404.

'* It is well known, that Gen. Bennett has for some time been
striving to organize the militia of this state, on a plan which would
make tnem more effective in the time of emergency. The example
of his skill and ability, to effect that object, so necessary for the
public weal, is now fairly before the public ; and as lovers of our
country we hope that it will be satisfactory and be adopted by the
citizens of this state.

'* In time of peace, it is necessary to prepare for war ; the follow-
ing remarks of Gen. Washington to both houses of Congress, in
1793, are so appropriate, that we cheerfully ^ive them a place.

" * I am pressing upon you the necessity of placing ourselves in a
condition of completie defence, and exact the fulfilment of duties
towards us. Th^ people ought not to indulge a persuasion contrary
to the order of human events'. There is a rank due to the nation,
which will be withheld, if not lost, by the known weakness and abso-
lute neglect to improve our system of defence. Ifioe desire to avoid
insuUf we must be ready to repel it.^ "

Times and SeasattSfVol. II., No. 14, p. 416.

** From the Belleville Advocate.

** * Mr. BoTD : I have read with much interest, the * Inaugural
Address' of Dr. John C. Bennett, of the city of Nauvoo, which wag

32 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

delivered to the City Councilon the 3d of February last, as published

in the * Times and Seasons.' j

*^ ' It is a document which, 1 think, is entitled to tlie particular I

notice of our respectable fellow-citizens: and if it should meet your
views, as it does mine, diffusing a will to promote morality and
science, I would be proud to see it in its verbatim character, por-
trayed in the columns of your widely circulating paper, the <^ Belle-
ville Advocate."

<« * I am and have been long acquainted with Dr. Bennett, and his
present character in the military department of this State is not in-
ferior to any in the Union.

'" With this communication, you will receive the Address..

" * With sentiments of respect,
" * I have the honor to be

" * Yours, respectfully, &c.

"» W. G. GOFORTH, M. D.
" ( BxLLBTiiXB, Illinois, March 93, 1841.' "

(( We should be happy to comply with the request of our worthy
and esteemed M. D. friend, <01d Pills,' to publish the ^Address,'
entire, which he was kind enough to furnish us ; but the press of
other matter prevents. We have given it an attentive perusal ; and
heartily concur with the sentiments contained therein. Certainly,
they ought to be the guide of those who are placed in immediate
authority over the morals of community, and Mayor Bennett
clearly understands his duties. We shall make some extracts frum
his speech, and earnestly commend them to our readers. We
think, our * town' Trustees might profit by the example that is set
them, by the Mayor of Nauvoo."

Times and Seasons, Vol. II., No. 14, p. 419.

** Not only has the Lord given us favor in the eyes, of the com-
munity, who are happy to see us in the enjoyment of all the rights
and privileges of freemen, but we are happy to state, that severu of
the principal men of Illinois, who have listened to the doctrines we
prnmulge, have become obedient to the faith, and are rejoicing in
the same ; among whom is John C. Bennett, M. D., Quarter-Master-
General of Illinois." — Times and SeasonSy Vol. 11., No. 6, p. 275.

*^For the T\ma tmd Seasons.

"THE NAUVOO LEGION.

'^The firm heart of the Sage and the Patriot is warm'd
By the grand *• Nauv(x> Legion : ' The * Legion ' is form'd
To oppose vile oppression, and nobly to stand
In defence of the honor, and laws of the land.
Base, illegal proscribers may tremble — 'tis right
That the lawless aggressor should shrink with affright,
From a band that's united fell mobbers to chase,
And protect our lov'd country from utter disgrace

CBABA^CTEB OF THE AUTHOR. 3S

''Fair Columbia! rejoice ! look away to the West,
To thy own llliaois, where the saints have found rest :
See a phoenix come fortli from the graves of the just,
Whom Missouri's oppressors laid low in the dust :
See a phoenix — a * JLegion ' — a warm-hearted band,
Who, unmov'd, to thy basis of freedom will stand.
»

"When the day of vexation rolls fearfully on —
When thy children turn traitors — when safety is gone —
When peace in thy borders no longer is found —
When the fierce battles rage, and Uie war-trumpets sound;
Here, here are thy warriors — a true-hearted baiid,
To their country's best interest forever will stand;
For ihta to thy standard, the * Legion ' Will be
A strong bulwark of Freedom — of pure Liberty.

"Here's the silver-hair'd vet'ran, who suiSer'd to gain
That Freedom be now volunteers to maintain :
The brave, gallant young soldier — the patriot is here
With his sword and his buckler, his helmet and spear;
And the horseman whose steed proudly steps to the sound
Of the 8oui-stirrin£r music that's moving around ;
And here, too, is tne orphan, whose spirit grows brave
At the mention of ' Boges,' and his own father's grave ;
Tes, and bold-hearted Chieftains as ever drew breath,
Who are fearless of danger — regardless of death ;
Who've decreed in the name of the Ruler on high
That the Laws shall be honored — that treason shall die.

" Should they need reSnforcementtf, those rights to secure.
Which our forefathers purchas'd ; and Freedom ensure.
There is still in reserve a strong Cohort above ;
^Lo.' the chariots of Israel^ and horsemen thereof.*

" Eliza.
"CiTT OF Nautoo, June 2, 1841."

Times and Seasons^ Vol. II., No. 17, p. 467.

«« EXTRACT
" From a Revelation given to Joseph Smith, Jr., Jan, 19, 1841.

"Again, let my servant, John C. Bennett, help you in your labor,
in sending my word to the Kings and people of the earthy and stand
by yoU) even you my servant Joseph Smith in the hour of affliction,
and his reward shall not fail if he receive counsel ; and for his love,
he shall be great ; for he shall be mine if he does this, saith the
Lord. I have seen the work he hath done, which I accept, if h«
continue; and will crown him with blessings and great glory."

Times and Seasons, vol. II., No. lo, p. 425.

34 ' HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

"THE WARSAW SIGNAL.

" We can hardly find language to express our surprise and dis-
approbation at the conduct of tlie Editor of the ' Sig^nal,' as man-
ifested in that paper of the 19th ult. We had fondly hoped that the
sentiments there expressed, would never have dared to be uttered
by any individual, in the community in which we reside, whose
friendship we esteem, and whose virtuous and honorable conduct,
have secured them the approval of every patriotic and benevolent
mind. We are, however, anxious to know the real feelings of indi-
viduals, and are glad that the latent feelings of the Editor of the
Signal, have at last, manifested themselves, clearly and distinctly.

** And, we would ask the Editor of the Signal^ what is the cause
of his hostility — of this sudden and unexpected ebullition of feeling
— this spirit of opposition and animosity ? Whose rights have been
trampled upon ? Whose peace have we disturbed ? General Ben-
nett has been appointed Master in Chancery, by Judge Douglass,
and General Bennett is a Mormon ! This is the atrocious act — this
is the cause of the Editor's vile vituperation. It will not require the
gift of discernment to tell what spirit the Editor was possessed of,
when he wrote the following : —

" < Bennett has but recently become an inhabitant of this State -^
he joins a sect and advocates a creed in which no one believes he
has any faith.'

"It is obvious, that the intention is to make the community
believe, that General Bennett is a mere renegado — hypocrite —
and all that is base in humanity. But General Bennett's character
as a gentleman, an officer, a scholar, and physician, stands too high
to need defending by us; suffice it to say, that he is in the confidence
of the Executive, holds the office of Quarter- Master-General of this
State, and is well known to a large number of persons of the first
respectability throughout the State. He has, likewise, been favor-
ably known for upwards of eight years by some of the authorities
of the Church, and has resided three years in this State. But being
a Mormon, his virtites are construed into defects, and is
thought a proper object of the base, cowardly, and ungentlemanly
attack of the Editor of the < Signal.' "

Times and Seasons, Vol. II., No. 15, pp. 431, 432.

" Generals Joseph Smith, John C. Bennett, and Hyrum Smith,
and some other citizens of Nauvoo, attended the military parade, at
Montrose, on the 14th, as visitors, on the special invitation of Gen-
eral Swazey, and Colonel Fuller of Iowa, the officers in command.
Generals Joseph and Hyrum Smith attended, attired in plain citi-
zen's garb, as citizens, without the least military appearance about
them. General Bennett, and some of his staff officers, it is true,
appeared in the * splendid and brilliant uniform of the Nauvoo Le-
gion,' as the Editor of the Signal is pleased to term it. All passed
off with perfect good feeling, and in a highly creditable manner."

Times and Seasons, Vol. II., No. 23, p. 563,

r

CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOR. 35

"STATE GUBERNATORIAL CONVENTION.

"CiTT or Nautoo, Illinois, t
December 20, A. D. 1841. )

" To my friends in Illinois : —

" The Gubernatorial Convention of the State of Illinois have
nominated Colonel Adam W. Snyoer for GOVERNOR, and
Colonel John Moore for LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR of the
State of Illinois — election to take place in August next. Colonel
Moore, like Judge Douglass, and Esq. Warren, was an intimate
friend of General Bennett, long before that gentieman became a
member of our communitj ; and Greneral Bennett informs us that
no men were more efficient in assisting him to procure our great
chartered privileges than were Colonel Snyder, and Colonel Moore.
They are sterling men, and friends of equal rights — opposed to the
oppressor's grasp, and the tyrant's rod. With such men at the head
of our State Government, we have nothing to fear. In the next
canvass we shall be influenced by no party consideration — and no
Carthaginian coalescence or collusion, witn our people, will be suf-
fered to affect, or operate against, General Bennett or any other of
our tried friends already semi-oJUcially in the field; so the partisans
in this county who expect to divide the friends of humanity and
equal rights, will find themselves mistaken — we care not a fig for
Whig or Democrat : they are both alike to us ; but we shall go for
our friends, our tried friends, and the cause of human Iwerty,
which is the cause of God. We are aware that * divide and con-
quer,' is the watch word with many, but with us it cannot be done
— we love liberty too well — we have suffered too much to be easily
duped — we have no cq^t's-paws amongst us. We voted for Gen-
eral Harrison, because we loved him — he was a gallant officer,
and a tried statesman ; but this is no reason why we should always
be governed by, his /ricnd* — he is now dead, and all of his friends
are not ours. We claim the privileges of freemen, and shall act
accordingly. Douglass is a Master Spirit, and his friends are our
friends — we are willing to cast our banners on the air, and fight by
his side in the cause of humanity, and equal rights — the cause of
liberty and the law. Snyder, and Moore, are his friends —■ they
are ours. These men are free from the prejudices and superstitions
of the age, and such men we love, and such men will ever receive
our support, be their political predilections what they may. Snyder,
and Moore, are known to be our friends; their friendship is vouched
for by those whom we have tried. We will never be justly charged
with the sin of ingratitude — they /wt?e served us, and we will serve
them. "Joseph Smith,

" Lieutenant' General of the Nauvoo legion.'
Times and Seasons, Vol. III., 'No. 5, p. 651.

>t

" RULES OP ORPER X)F THE CITY COUNCIL.

" Ea^actsfrom the Minutes of the City Council.

*' The Council then received the following commanication from
the Mayor^ to wit :

36 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

" Matok's OrricE, City of Nautoo, IHinois, Jantiarff S3, A. D. 1849.

" Gentlemen of the City Council ;

"Aldermen and Councillors : —

" I have carefully selected and prepared the following * Rules of
Order of the City Council of the City of Nauvoo,' and present them
for your adoption, to wit : —

" Rides of Order of the City Council of the City ofJVduvoo.

" Duties of the Mayor.

"1st. The Mayor, or President pro tempore^ shall take the chair
and organize the Council, within thirty minutes after the arrival of
the hour to which it shall have been adjourned, and, while presid-
ing, shall restrain all conversation irrelevant to the business then
under consideration.

" 2d. The Mayor having taken the chair, and a quorum (which
shall consist of a majority of the entire Council) being present, the
Council shall be opened by prayer, after which the journal of the
preceding meeting shall be read by the Recorder, to the end that
any mistake may be corrected that shall have been made in the
entries; after which no alteration of the journal shall be permitted,
without the unanimous consent of the members present.

" 3d. The Mayor shall decide all questions of order — subject,
nevertheless, to an appeal to the Council, by any member.

" 4th. When the question is taken on any subject under consid-
eration, the Mayor shall call on the members in the affirmative to
say, ai/> — those in the negative to say, no — and he shall declare
the result. When doubts arise on the decision, he may call on the
members voting to rise, or take the yeas and nays — the yeas and
nays, likewise, may be taken on the call of any four members.

" 5th. I'he Mayor shall have a ri^ht to vote on all occasions ;
and when his vote renders the division equal, the question shall
be lost.

" 6th. The Mayor shall sign his name to all acts, addresses, and
resolutions of the Council.

"Of the Vice-Mayor.

" 7th. The Council shall elect a Vice-Maj'or, to serve as Presi-
dent pro tempore^ who shall preside during the absence of the Mayor,
and who shall be chosen by ballot — and a majority of the vt>tes of
the members present shall be necessary to a choice.

"8th. If at any meeting when a majority shall be assembled,
neither the Mayor, nor the President pro tempore^ shall be present,
the Council shall proceed to the election of a President for that
meeting.

"Of the Recorder.

" 9th. The Recorder shall keep a journal of the proceedings of
the Council, and shall enter therein whatever a majority of the
members shall order ; and, in all cases, the yeas and nays, or dilssent
of any vaeahet, when required to do so.

CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOR. 37

" 10th. The Recorder shall read whatever is laid before the Coun-
cil for the consideration of the members, and shall countersign every
act, address, or resolution, passed by the Council, noting tlie date of
its passage.

" 11th. When the yeas and nays are called upon any question,
the Recorder shall read over distinctly, first, the names of the mem-
bers who voted in the affirmative, and next, the names of those who
voted in the negative.

"Of the Marshal.

" 12th. The Marshal shall serve as Door-Keeper, and Sergeant-
at-Arms, to the Council.

" Order of Business.

" 13th. After the reading of the journal of the preceding meeting,
the Mayor shall call for petitions, and no petition shall be received
Ihereafler, unless by unanimous consent.

" 14th. Petitions having been called for and disposed of, reports
of Standing Committees shall next be received, then reports of
Select Committees, and then any miscellaneous business shall be in
order.

" Decorum.

" 15th. The Mayor shall always be at liberty to deliver his senti-
ments in debate, on any question before the Council ; but when the
Mayor speaks, it shall be from his chair.

'' I6th. In cases of disorderly conduct in spectators, the Mayor
may either order the persons out, committing the disorder ; have
the room cleared ; or fine or commit the offenders to prison for con-
tempt.

"Of Order and Debate.

" 17th. When any member is about to speak in debate, or offer
any matter to the Council, he shall rise from his seat, and address
the Mayor as * Mr. President,' and avoid personalities.

" 18th. When two members rise at the same time, the Mayor
shall name the person to speak, but in all other cases, the member
first rising shall speak first. No member shall speak more than
three times to the same question without leave of the Council, nor
speak more than twice without leave, until every person choosing
to speak shall have spoken.

"19th. Any member may call anothec to order, and when a
member is so called to order, he shall immediately desist speaking,
until the Mayor decide whether he is in order, or not j and every
question of order shall be decided without debate ; but any member
may appeal from his decision to the Council ; if the decision be in
favor of the member called to order, he shall be at liberty to pro-
ceed ; if otherwise, the Council shall determine upon the propriety
of his proceeding with his observations.

" 20th. When a question has been taken and carried in the affir-
mative,^ or negative, it shall be in order for any member of the
majority to move for the reconsideration thereof; but no motion for
the reconsideration of any vote shall be in order, after the paper

4

38 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

upon which the same shall have been taken, shall have gone oat of
the possession of the Council

"21 St. No motion, or proposition, shall be received as an amend-
ment which shall be a substitute for the proposition before the Coun-
cil ', but nothing shall be considered a substitute which shall have
relation to the subject matter under consideration.

"22d. When the yeas and nays are>^ called, every member shall
vote, unless specially excused; and in voting by yeas and nays,
the .Counsellors shall be called first, the Aldermen next, and the
Mayor last.

" 23d. When a motion is made and seconded, it shall be reduced
to writing, and shall be first read aloud before any order be taken
thereon ; but the question, * Will the Council now consider it,'
shall not be put, unless called for by a member, or is deemed neces-
sary by the Mayor : and on motions to amend, the question of con-
sideration shall in no case be put.

" 24th. Any motion may be withdrawn or modified by the mover,
at any time before a final decision or amendment.

"25th. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be
received but to adjourn, to lie on the table, for the previous ques-
tion, to postpone indefinitely, to postpone to a day certain, to com-
mit, or to amend ; which several motions shall have precedence in
.the order thev stand arranged. A motion to strike out the enacting
words of a bill, shall have precedence of a motion to amend, and, if
carried, shall be considered a rejection. — And a motion to refer to a
Standing Committee, shall have precedence of one to refer to a
Select Committee. A motion to adjourn shall always be in order;
that, and a motion to lie on the table, shall be taken without debate.

*^ 26th. The previous question shall be in this form, < Shall the
main question be now put ? ' It shall only be admitted when de-
manded bv a majority of the members present ; until it is decided,
shall preclude all amendment and further debate of the main ques-
tion, and upon said question there shall be no debate.

" 27th. Anv member may call for the division of a question where
the sense will admit of it, but a question to strike out and insert
shall be indivisible.

" 28th. When a question is carried in the afl5rmative by yeas and
nays, any member may enter on the journal his reasons for dis-
senting.

" 29th. It shall not be in order to introduce a bill, unless by wav
of report from committee, or leave be previously asked and obtained.

"30th. Every bill or resolution requiring the signature of the
Mayor and Recorder, shall receive three several readings previous
to its passage.

" 3lst. The first reading of a bill shall be for information, and if
opposition be made to it, the question shall be, * Shall this bill be
rejected ? ' If no opposition be made it shall go to the second read-
ing without a question, when it shall be open for discussion and
amendment, or such order as the Council may think proper to take,'
except the question on the passage thereol, which can only be
taken, on the day of the introduction of the bill, by the consent of
two thirds of the members present.

CHABACTER OF THE AUTHOR. 39

<' 32nd. Before anj bill or resolation requiring the signatare of the
Mayor and Recorder, shall be read a third time, the question shall
be put, * Shall this bill be read a third time V and if a majority of
the members present shall not vote in the affirmative, the same
shall be declared to be rejec|ed.

*' 33rd. On the third reading of a bill, the question shall be on its
passage, but it may be committed at any time previous to its
passage.

" 34th. When a blank is to be filled, and different sums or dates
are proposed, the question shall be first taken on the highest sum or
longest date, and thence downwards.

" 35th. The Council may at any time suspend any of its rules by
a majority of three fourths of the members present.

^*3i6th. After the arrival of the hour to which the Council may
stand adjourned, no member who niay have appeared, shall absent
himself without leave of those present, or of the Council when
formed.

"Of Committees.

*' 37th. All Standing and Select Committees shall be appointed by
the Mayor, unless otherwise directed, and the first named member
shall be the Chairman. The following Standing Committees shall
be appointed, to wit :

A Committee of Ways and Means, to consist of one member from
each ward, to whom shall be referred all subjects of taxation and
revenue..

A ComTmttee of. Improvement, to consist of one member from each
ward,, to whom shall be referred all subjects relative to repairs and
opening of roads and streets, and other subjects of a similar nature.

A Committee of Claims, to consist of three members, to whom
shall be referred all matters of claims against the city, and applica-
tions for remission of penalties.

A Committee of Unfinished Business, to consist of two members,
who shall examine the journal of the preceding Council, and report
such business as may have remained unfinished.

A Committee of Elections, to consist of three members.

A Committee qf Police, to consist of one member from each ward,
who are empowered to call upon any officer of the Corporation,
for any information, report, paper or other matter relative to the
police. ,

A Committee of Municipal Laws, to consist of five members, to
whom sha^l be referred all bills for ordinances presented to the
Council.

A Committee of FubUc Grounds, to consist of one member from
each war(i.

A CommittH of PuAlic Works, to consist of three members.

"Or Amendment to Rules.

*' 38th. All motions for amendment of the rules, shall be submit-
ted one month previous to a final determination thereof, unless
three fourths of the members present shall assent that it shall be
finally acted on the day on which it is submitted.

40 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

"Of Balloting.

" 39th. In balloting for committees, a plurality of votes shall be
sufficient to make a choice, but in other cases a majority of the
whole number of votes shall be required to decide.

^* All of which is respectfully submitted.

" John C. Bennett, Mayor.

" The above communication was read by the Recorder to the City
Council, on the 22d January, 1842, and referred to a Select Com-
mittee, consisting of Joseph Smith and Orson Pratt, — the Commit-
tee reported back the Communication and recommended its adop-
tion, which was carried."

Times and Seasons, Vol. III., No. 7, pp. 683 — 68G.

" In regard to the correspondence between Dr. C. V. Dyer and Gen.
Bennett, referred to by Gov. Duncan, his statements are foul perver-
sions of truth ; the correspondence does not show either myself or
Gen. Bennett to be abolitionists, but the friends of equal rights and
pritnleges to aU men.'' — Times and Seasons, Vol. III., No. 15, p. 808.

JFVom Sidney Rigdon, Esq., Momey at Law, to Major- Gen, James
Mkngton iennet, LL, D., of»^lington House, L. I.

" Post-Office, Nautoo, Illinois, ^prU 23, 1842.

"Sir,—

" A letter has appeared in the New York Herald, giving a
description of certain individuals in this city. I take the liberty of
addressing this letter to you, that I may answer ray part and show
my opinion. The subject of this address is General J. C. Bennett.
General Bennett is nve feet five inches high, one hundred and '
forty-two pounds' weight, and thirty-seven years of age. He is at
once Major- General in the Nauvoo Legion, Quarter-Master- General
of the State, Mayor of the City of Nauvoo, and Master in Chancery
for the County of Hancock. He is a Physician of great celebrity,
and a successful practitioner ; of great versatility of talent ; of re-
fined education, and accomplished manners ; discharges the duties
of his respective offices with honor to himself, and credit to the peo-
ple. He possesses much decision of character ; honorable in his
intercourse with his fellows, and a most agreeable companion;
possessing much vivacity and animation of spirit, and every way
qualified to be a useful citizen, in this or any other city.
" Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

** Sidney Riodon, Post-Master.

"J. A. Bexnet, Esq."

Official ffUkdrawal from the Mormon Church,

"Jlfay.17, 1842.
"Brother James Sloan, —

" You will be so good as to permit General Bennett to
withdraw his name from the Church record, if he desires to do so,
and this with the best of feelings towards you and General Bennett.

"Joseph Smith.'*

J

CHABACTER OF THE AUTHOR. 41

" In accordance with the above I have permitted General Bennett
to withdraw his membership from the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints, this 17th day of May, 1842 ; the best of feehngs
subsisting between all parties. Jaues Sloan,

" General Church Clerk and Recorder.

" CiTT OF Nauvoo, Ma^ 17, 1842.
** The above is a true copy from the original.

Orson Pratt."

After my withdrawal from the Church, the Prophet and
his minions withdrew from me the hand of fellowship, and

ANTE-DATED the MoRMON BuLL OP ExCOMMUNICATION,

and presented it to Professor Orson Pratt, A. M., one of
the twelve Mormon Apostles, for his signature, some days
after I showed him my official withdrawal^ and Mr. Pratt
REFUSED to sign it — stating as his reason that he knew
NOTHING AGAINST ME. This BuLL was sigued by the
Mormon Hierarchy, who forged the names of Lyman
Wight, who was then in Tennessee ; William Smith, who
was in Pennsylvania; and John E. Page, who was in
Pittsburgh ! — These are three of the Mormon Apostles.

Prentice and Weissinger, the able editors of the Louis-
ville Journal, in their paper of July 23, 1842, in speaking
on this subject, say, —

" Here Gen. Bennett publishes a copy of a highly honorable dis-
mksion from the Mormon Church, given him by the general church
clerk and recorder, at Bennett's own request, and in accordance
with Joe Smith's written instructions. Subsequently to this with-
drawal and honorable dismission of Gen. B., Joe Smith, in anticipa-
tion of an attempt on the part of the General to expose his villanies,
undertook to blast Bennett's character, and destroy his credibility,
by publishing a pretended copy of a withdrawal of the fellowship of
the Church from him, giving this withdrawal of fellowship a date
prior to that of the honorable dismission, and appending to it the
names of men, who, at the date of the document, were more than a
thousand miles off. This fraud and forgery, on the part of the
Prophet, is rendered so perfectly palpable, that even he himself can-
not pretend to deny it."

New Election of Mcojor and Vice-Mayor of the City of Ndwooo^
on the Resignation of Crenercd Bennett.

"On the 17th instant, General John C. Bennett resigned the
office of Mayor of the City of Nauvoo, and on the 19th, General
Joseph Smith, the former Vice-Mayor, was du]y elected to fill the

4*

42 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS«

yacancy ; and on the same day, General H^rum Smith was elected
Vice-Mayor in place of Genersd Joseph Smith, elected Mayor.

^^ The following yote of thanks was then unanimously yoted to
the Ex-Mayor, General Beiyiett, by the City Council, to wit : Re-
solyed by the City Council of the City of Nauyoo, that this Coun-
cil tender a yote of thanks to General John C. Bennett, for his
great zeid in haying good and wholesome laws adopted for the
goyernment of this city, and for the faithful discharge of his duty
while Mayor of the same.

"Passed May 19, 1842. Joseph Suith, Mayor.

" James Sloan, Recorder.''

From ''The {NavmOo) Waap," ^May 21, 184S, Vol. I., No. 6.

It will be seen by the foregoing documents, that I was
in perfectly good odor with the saints and their rulers, in
the Holy City, up to the time of my withdrawal from the
Church, and even afterwards. So it appears, from the
Prophet's own showing, that the Lord was remarkably well
pleased with his servant John C. Bennett so long as he
was an advocate of the Mormon creed ; but when he came
out on the pretended man of God, the Lord's Anointed
Old White Hat Prophet, Joe contended that he always
knew Bennett was a scoundrel. It appears, therefore,
that either the Lord, or Joe, was mistaken. Which do
you think it was, Christian reader?

I will now conclude by giving my Patriarchal Blessing,
from the Holy Hyrum Smith, the Patriarch of the whole
Mormon Church, and Heir-Apparent to the Throne.

A Blessing pronouruxd on ihe Head of J. C, Bennett., son of J. and
JV. Bennett^ horn in the Tmum ofTaxr Haven^ Bristol County,
Massachusetts, August 3, A. i>. 1804, hy Hyrum Smith, Patn-
arch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Sep-
tember 21, 1840.

" John C. Bennett — I lay my hands upon your head in the name
of Jesus Christ, and inasmuch as thou art a son of Abraham, I bless
you with the holy priesthood, with all its graces, and gifts, and with
wisdom in all tlie mysteries of God. Tnou shalt haye knowledge
giyen thee, and shalt understand the keys by which all mysteries
shall be unlocked. Thou shalt have great power among the chil-
dren of men, and shalt have influence among the great and the noble,
even to prevail on many, and bring them to the knowledge of the
truth. Thou shalt prevail over thy enemies ; and shalt know when
thou hast gained power over them, and in this thine heart shall
Rejoice. Many souls shall believe, because of the proclamation

CHABACTER OF THE AUTHOR. 48

which thou shalt make. The Holy Spirit shall rest upon thee,
insomuch, that thy voice shall make the foundation on which thou
staudest to shake, — so great shall be the power of God.

'* His favor shall rest upon thee in dreams and visions, which shall
manifest the glory of God. Beloved brother, if thou art fkithful,
thou shalt have power to heal the sick ; cause the lame to leap like
an hart ; the deu to hear ; and the dumb to speak, and their voice
shall salute thine ears ; thy soul shall be made glad and thy heart
shall rejoice in God. Thou shalt be like unto Paul, who, according
to his own words, was like * one bom out of due time/ and shalt
have the visions of heaven open, even as they were to him.

" Thy name shall be known in many nations, and thy voice shall
be heard among many people. Tea, unto many of the remnants of
Israel shalt thou be known, and when they shall hear of thy coming
they shall rejoice, and thou shalt proclaim the gospel unto many
tribes of the house of Israel.

" If thou shouldst step aside from the path of rectitude at any
time because of temptation, the Lord shall call after thee, because
of the integrity of thine heart, and thou shalt return to the path
from whence thou hast strayed, for God shall illume the path by the
light of his everlasting covenant, and with its light thou shalt keep
the way.

" God is with thee, and has wrought upon thy heart to come up
to this place, that thou mayest be satisfied that the servants of God
dwell here. God shall reward thee for thy kindness, and thou shalt
be fully satisfied hereafter. Thjb^oul shall be enlarged, thy mind
shall be clear, and thy judgment informed, and the knowledge of
all these things shall be made clear to thy understanding. Thou
wilt have to pass through tribulation, but thou shalt remember the
promises of the Lord, and shalt be comforted, and shalt have the
greater manifestations of the power of God.

" Thou must travel and labor for Zion, for this is the mind aud
will of Gk)d. Let thy voice be heard, and thy prayers and sup-
plications and thy rejoicings be known. Turn not aside from the
truth for the popularitv of the world j but be like Paul. Let God
be thy shield and buckler, and he shaU shield thee forever. Angels
shall guide thee, and shall lift thee out of many dangers, and dif-
ficulties ; and afler thou art delivered, thou shait know they have
done it, and thy heart shall be comforted.

" Thou shalt have power over many of thy friends, and relations,
and shalt prevail with them, and when thou shalt reason with them,
it shall be like Paul reasoning with Felix, and they shall trAnble
when they hear thy words. Thou shalt be blessed with the bless-
ings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and if thou art faithful, thou
shalt yet be a Patriarch, and the blessings thou shalt pronounce
shall be sealed in heaven. Thou shalt have an inheritance among
the Saints in time and in eternity, for this is the will of Grod. If
thou continue faithful and steadfast in the Everlasting Covenant,
thou shalt have power over the winds and the waves, and they shall
obey thy voice when thou shalt speak in the name of Jesus Christ.

" The power of Grod shall shield thee while thou art laboring for

44 HISTORY or THE SAINTS.

Zion. Thou shalt outride the storm of adversitj with patience, and
shalt be crowned with immortality in the Celestial Kingdom, when
Christ shall descend. Even so, Amen.

" R. B. Thompson, Scribe:'

CORRESPONDENCE.

" La Harfc, Hancock Conntj, Illinois, i
'*Jane 18, 1842. ]

"To Major- GrENERAL J. C. Bennett:
"Sir,— '

" By your solicitation, I raised the 3d Company of Cav-
alry of the 2d Regiment and Ist Cohort, of the Nauvoo Legion, and
accepted the office of Captain. It is now rumored, that you are
about to resign the command of the Legion, which induces me to
tender to you my resignation.

** Yours, respectfully,

"John F. Olnet,

" Capt. 3d C. 2d R. Ist C. JV. L.
"Accepted, June 20, A. D. 1842.

"John C. Bennett, Major- Gerterai:

" Nautoo, June ao, A. D. 1843.
" Major- General Bennett:

"Dear Sir,— ^

" I would respectfully tender you ray resignation of the
offices of Brevet Major-treneral, and Cornet of the Nauvoo Legion,
which offices I was pleased to accept at your instance, and yours
oidy^ believing then, as I now do, that you were the ordv man in our
city, capable and qualified to hold the office of Major- CTeneral in, or
to command, said Legion. Be assured, sir, that nothing more or less
would tempt me to resign, than the fact of your intention of doing
the same.

" Very respectfully, yours, &c.

" Geo. W. Robinson,
" Brevet Maj. Gen. and Cor. JV*. L.
" Accepted, July 1, A. D. 1842.

"John C. Bennett, Major- General.'*

" Nauvoo, July 3, A. D. 184S.
" General Bennett :
"Sir,—

" The Sangamo Journal came in to-day. I expected some-
thing from you, but was disappointed ; but presumed you knew
nothing of the new arrangement of the mails. I just saw Col. C. L.
Higbee, and saw the affidavit of Mrs. Schindle. Good! The letter

to N , [Nancy, — Miss Nancy Rigdon,] C. L. H. [Col. Chauncy

L. Higbee,] will get. F. M. H. [Col. Francis M. Higbee] has it,
and I told him to get it. I will leave this for the present, and await
the return of our folks from meeting, before I seal it, unless the
mail should come before they return.

CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOR. 45

"2 o'clock. Our folks have returned from meeting, and the way
Joe took back what he said about us, was a caution. He said he had
agreed to take back what was said, but, on thinking it over, he could
not do it,. for any man that would suffer Bennett to come into their
houses, was just as bad as he; and he would, however, say this
much, that one continued course of rascality in Mr. Rigdon and
myself, for some time back, was the cause of his coming out on
us, and if that would be any satisfactory confession, we could have
that much, and do what we pleased. He^said, that whenever he
exposed iniquity, the persons chastised would turn round and en-
deavor to injure him. *Now,' says he, ^look out! look out!!
These men, I will venture to say, will come out on me, with all their
power, and say and do all they can to put me down ; but do not be-
lieve one word of their cursed lies, FOR I KNOW I AM A
PROPHET! ! !' Joe soaped over Messrs. Ivins, Hunter, and
Pierce, and I think some have already consecrated, and quite likely
the balance will. Joe did not say much about Higbee. He stated
that a young man came down to see him the other day, and wanted
to know why he came out on him ; but, says he, * I have settled all
matters with him, and shall not mention his name, for he confessed
his sins to me, and begged I would not mention him.' Francis toUl
roar. Yours, respectfully,

"Geo. W. Robinson."

" Nauvoo, July 4, A. D. 1842.
•* General John C. Bennett:
" Dear Sir,—

" I received your favor by Mr. Hamilton, to-day, and
have done all in my power to accomplish your business, according
to your request. ♦«»«*«**» I have talked with Mrs. G**,
and labored hard to show her the necessity of coming out to befriend
the innocent, and defend her own character from Joe's foul asper-
sions ; but she says that she will not give her affidavit now, but
thinks that she will in the course of two or three days. She wants
to have a talk with O. Pratt before she gives it. I have seen Pratt,
and he says, if she comes to talk with him, he will tell her, that if
she knows any thing, to tell it, let it hit where it will. There were
a great many out to meeting yesterday. Smith preached — said
considerable against you, and stated that Messrs. Robinson and Rig-
don had requested him to recall what he had said against them ; but
instead of doing it, according to promise, he vilified them worse than
ever, if it were possible to do it — no other names mentioned ; but he
insinuated very hard on Francis in the forenoon, and on myself in
the afternoon, by saying that those who had resigned, were no better
than yourself, after placing you at the lowest grade he possibly
could, in his awkward way of doing it. I have seen Nancy, [Nancy
Rigdon,] — she told me to say to you, ' go ahead, and make of her
name as much as you please, in relating the circumstance which
happened between Smith and herself.' Mr. Pratt and his wife say,
that if ever Smith renews the attack on them, they will come out
against him. and stand it no longer.

V " Tours, with respect,

"C. L. HlOBEl."

^

46 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

«*Nauvoo, July 6, 1842.
"General John C. Bennett:
" Dear Sir,—

" Joseph Smith is yet thrashing about, tearing up the
D****, and slandering every body. He has not lit on Rigdon and
Robinson very severely as yet, but touched them slightly on Sun-
day, also myself; and we must keep things right side up. Mrs.
Schindle's affidavit is a good one, and Mrs. G**, I have understood,
v^as going to give hers.» Mrs. Pratt, I think, will also give hers —
also, Miss Nancy Rigdon. Joe is operating with Mrs. White, and
it is reported, that he is to settle upon her a fine sum soon, or return
the money he and Sherman took from Bill White some time ago.
You ought to see Mrs. White, and labor with her, as soon as possi-
ble, and secure her testimony, because it would he great. As it
respects my affidavit, sir, for God's sake, my sake, and the sake of
my people, do not show it to any one on earth, as yet, never, until I

five you liberty. Stiles has seen it, and you must swear him that
e will keep dark as h***. I am yet true as death, and intend
to stick or die, but you must keep my name back, because I am not
ready as yet to leave ; and as soon as you bring my name out, they
are certain to take my life— -they go it like h***, yet. I am likely to
sell my property here, and as soon as I do, 1 wil^ emigrate like
lightning. Scorch them with the Missouri writ — that is what
scares them like the d****, Porter not excepted.

"Your dear friend,

Francis M. Higbee.
" P. S. I think I will be out to Cartha^ to see you soon : come
in as soon as you can, but do not stay here long, or over night.
Pratt is true — Rigdon is good. F. M. H.^'

« Nautoo, July 5, 1843.
"Doctor Bennett:
"Dear Friend, —

" Orissa's health is yet in a very critical situation, and we
are very anxious to have your professional advice,/or we do not know
what to do without it. I will give you as accurate a description of
the case as possible. ***«»«*»»*. "We wish you to write
your prescription in full, and send it to Sarah's, [Prof. Orson Pratt's,
— Sarah M. Pratt being the sister of Mrs. Orissa A. AUred.] where
we shall remain until Orissa recovers. We all, wUh one accord^
send you our best respects. Mr. Pratt would write, but he is afraid
to. He wishes to be perfectly stiU, until your second letter comes
out — then you may hear.

" Yours, respectfully,

"William M. Allred."

" IVom W* F, Parrish, Esq., Mamey at Law,

" Mamilloit, July 31, 18^
"Dear Sir,—

" Prof. Wm. M. Smith, M.T)., informed me, that vou passed
through this place on Friday last, on your way to New York, to make

r

CHARACTEB OF THE AUTHOR. 47

an exposition of that infamous scoondrel, Joe Smith, and others con-
nected with him, in their piracy upon the human family. I am exceed-
ingly sorry, sir, that I could not have had an interview with you
upon this subject, for, be assured, I consider any' means which can be
adppted to bring such a ruthless ruffian to justice, as most laudable,
and not only worthy the attention, but imperatively demanded at the
hands of him who may be in possession of facts that will enable him
to accomplish that object. I am, however, aware, that the man who
attempts it, puts his life in competition with a secret influence of the
most dangerous, dark, and damning kind, that may be brought to
bear upon him, at times and places, and under circumstances least
anticipated, — an influence that can be known only by those who
have bad the means of knowing that we have, and which it is hard
to make others believe exists in an enlightened community.

" I have known you by reputation for some time, but have not
the pleasure of your acquaintance personally ; have said but little
upon the subject of your connection with the Prophet, but have
thought much, and am not disappointed in the issue.

" You, no doubt, have learned, in your close connection with Joe,
the position I occupied in his cabinet; and let me inquire what his
present feelings are toward me ? My life was sou^t for a time ; how
IS it now ? I was once a peculiar favorite of the rrophet and rulers
in Israel, called to be his scribe by revelation, wrote his early history,
kept his daily journal, superintended his mercantile, land, and bank-
ing speculations, under his directions.

" I joined the Church in 1833, and withdrew in 1837, at the head
of some forty others, and shortly after was excommunicated bv a BuU
from his Holiness; and not long after that, I made Kirtland, the stake
of Zion,so exceedingly unpleasant to him, that he ^ot a revelation
to leave between two days, and has not been there since.

" I lectured against them in the Temple, twice a week, during the
season ; once his lickskillets attemptea to expel me by force from
the sanctum sanctorum, but did not succeed. At about that time,
their printing-oflice fell into our hands, which, if they had not con-
sumed by fire, would soon have been speaking the truth as an atone-
ment for an ill-spent life. Before I left tliem, those that were
disaflected, met frequently, and consulted upon the matter, and
many of the first in official stations of the Church, were convinced
of the abominations of our leader, as well as myself, and so expressed
themselves in our private councils, to wit. Bishop Whitney, Orson
Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Doctor Williams, Cahoon, and
others, but had not the moral courage to come out publicly. By the
by, have Orson Pratt and Rigdon left them, as you intimated in your
communications.'' Please Write me who among the leaders have
left, ^md what the prospects are for breaking them up. Can it be
done .'' Be assured, sir, I would most cheerfully assist you in this
laudable undertaking, were I situated so that I could. !DutI do not
see how I can possibly, at this time, come to New York.

" My professional business, I suppose, I might leave, as I have
a partner in Canton ; but I am concerned in a mercantile establish-
ment in this place also, and my partner is absent, and will be for a
month at least. *

48 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

" At the time I left the Church, I wrote, bj way of exposition,
several newspaper articles 3 and the expectations of the public were
highly raised, in anticipation that I intended to publish a book,
although I did not so pledge myself, but intended to publish a
weekly periodical of that character, and should Iiave done so, had
not our printing-office been burnt.

''I am, no doubt, in possession of some facts that you are not ;
and were I so situated that I could, I would join you in New York,
and assist in your publication.

" Yo\»r obedient servant,

*' W. F. Parrish.

" General J. C. Bennett, New York."

From Erastus Wehh, M. i>., of Circkville, Ohio,

" Circle viixE, June 23, 1842.
" Dr. Bennett :

" Dear Sir,—

" Your letter of the 7th ult. was duly receited. I
have conversed with the Master and Secretary of Pickaway Lodge.
The Secretary is at this moment making out a certificate under the
seal of this Lodge, in answer to a letter received some time ago,
from your Deputy- Grand-Master, making inquiries respecting your
standmg in this Lodge. The result will be favorable, it appear-
ing on record that you were a member of this Lodge about fourteen
years ago, and left it in peax^e and friendship. This will, of course,
satisfy your calumniators.

" Dear sir,

" I remain, very respectfully,

" Your friend,

« E. Webb."

Frmn S, Francis, Esq^ Editor of the Sangamo Journal.

" SpRiiroFiELo, Illinois, July 6, 1842.

" Major-General Bennett :
" Dear Sir,—

*^ Yours of the 2d came safe to hand last night.
Your first number appears in our paper sent to you by the mail
which brings you this. These publications must produce intense
excitement, and, notwithstanding every effort will be made to dis-
credit them by Smith and his friends, the people wiU believe them.
You certainly have undertaken an arduous mity ; but, judging from
your success so far, the friends of morality, of truth, of true religion,
have strong confidence that you will succeed in tearing away the
veil th'it has hitherto concealed the * polluted' Monster, who styles
himsolf the Prophet of God.

'* Go on with the good work. You will have the best wishes of
the good. Obtain all the documentary evidence possible. Affidavits
from Miss Rigdon, and other ladies mentioned, v/ould produce
mighty results. We hope to hear from you, in reference to the

CHARACTEB OF THE AUTHOR. 49

^^g^ affair, more fully} before next paper. Should you succeed in
stran^ViDg the Monater with whom you are now g^rappled, you will
have nigh claims to rank with those who have achieved the highest
good for their species.

'* Respectfully yours,

*'S. Frahcis."

" SPBiNoriBLD, July 10, 1843
" Dear Sir,—

** We will give all your letters designed for publication. Joe
flounders, but your statements are hdieved by ail — rest assured
of this fact

*^ I wrote you four or five days since. Furnish all the document-
ary evidence possible, all the affidavits possible, and send us your
disclosures at St. Louis. Every body is now looking to the Journal
for your publications. We should be glad to have from your own
pen an account of the DaniteSf their obligations to each other, and
the design of their society. Joe must come down. Governor
Reynolds will be obliged to demand him, and innocent individuals
must not be implicated with him. T^is last matter is important.
A hair of the heads of those who were employed by him should
not be injured, provided they will sustain you and tell the truth.

" I have been writing to my friend Mr. Chambers, the editor of
the St. Louis Republican, this evening, and I introduced your name,
the object of your visit to St. Louis, and solicited for you his kind«
ness, and all the assistance and counsel you may wish. Please call
upon him, and mention your name — if not in his office, leave your
address.

** Let me hear from you promptly, and I am respectfully, &c.

" S. Francis.

" Geiteral J. C. Bennett.'

OPINIONS OF THE- NEWSPAPER PRESS.

From the Sangamo Jovmcd of July 8, 1842 — a leading western
paper J publShed at SpririgfiddL, (fit seat of govemmml of Uie
State of lUinois, ly S, Francis^ -^9'9 Editor.

" The public will be astounded at the statements made by General
Bennett m the article which follows from under his own hand. —
That in this day of liffht and intelligence such a man as Joe Smith
should be able to collect around him a mass of people, and make
them believe in his shallow and miserable scheme of imposture, is
matter of astonishment now, and will be more so in after times.

<* General Bennett is; the individual appointed by J udge Douglass
Master in Chancery for Hancock County — a most important and
responsible office, from the fact that the Master in Chancery, in
5

50 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

many cases, performs the dut^ of a Jadge of the Sopreme Court.
We have, therefore, the official endorsement of Judge Douglass,
^hich, however, is not needed,) in support of the character of
General Bennett for truth, and all those qualities required of one
vi^ho fills an office of high responsibility.

*' We state these facts, that the public may duly appreciate the
attacks of those men upon General Bennett, who are acting with
Joe Smith, to decry and to destroy him."

From the LomsvUh Journal of July 23, 1842 — aperiodical second
to none in America, edited by George D, Prentice, Esq. and
Weisinger.

'^ Greneral John C. Bennett was lately, next to Joe Smith, the
most distinguished member of the Mormon Church. He was com-
mander of the Mormoil Legion ; and he was, and still is, Master in
Chancery for Hancock County — a county peopled principally by
the Mormons. Some time ago a quarrel broke out between him
and Joe Smith, which resulted in his abandoning the Mormon
Church, and laying before the world an exposition of Smith's char-
acter and conduct. This exposition, as far as we have read it, is
one of the most stai1;lin^ things of the kind we ever saw. More-
over, it is deeply interesting to the public. Joe Smith is generally
regarded as a mere miserable fanatic ; but, although he may be a
fanatic, he is something more; he is the Prophet and the Com-
mander-in-Chief of thirty thousand Mormons, all of whom regard
him as a leader sent from Heaven, and look upon his commands as
emanating from the Most High. Backed bv his multitudinous and
deluded host, he already attempts to control the politics of Illinois,
and defies both the civil and military authorities of that State to call
him to account for any thing that he has done or may do."

From the Sangamo Journal of July 15, 1842.

'*The publications made by General Bennett are believed by
all men."

From the Warsaw Signal of July 9, 1842 -—a paper prirUed in
Hancock Countyj (the place qf Smithes residence,) ana edited by
Thomas C, Sharp, Esq,, Attorney at Law,

*' We understand that Greneral Bennett has commenced writing
for the Sangamo Journal a series of communications, going to show
the rascality of Joe Smith and his clan, and the dangerous designs
which he is capable of forming and executing. The General asks
not to be believed on his own assertions, but proves matters as he
goes ; he is a man of great energy and perseverance, and we should
not be surprised if he made the Mormons feel like stuck hogs for a
few months to come."

r
I

CHARACTEB OF THE AUTHOR. 51

tVom ike Cleveland Herald of JvJhf 19, 1842 — a paper edited by

/. A. Harrisy Esq,

*^ By the Sangamo Journal we have a portion of the promised
disclosures touching the infamous conduct of the I^rpphet Joseph
Smith, promised by General Bennett, but recently a Mormon high
in office and enjoying Smith's unbounded confidence. The dis-
closures show corruption such as had rarely been developed before
the days of the Latter Day Saints ; and if the half Bennett states
be true, Joe richly deserves the penitentiary instead of reverence
and obedience from his deluded followers. Bennett gives names
freely, and calls upon many witnesses to sustain the truth of his
statements."

From the Chicago Americcm of July 28, 1842 — a paper edited by

WiUiam W. BrackeUy Esq.

««FROM NAUVOO.

" Two gentlemen, wha passed through holy Joe's city on Thurs-
day of last week, state, that soon after their arrival Joe made a
speech in front of the Temple. The subject of his speech was —
Bennett — the Sangamo Journal — Mrs. Pratt — and other matters.
Joe swore like a pirate, and used the most obscene language. He
appeared to be much excited, and it would be an act of charity to
suppose that the holy debauchee was drunk as well as mad.

" Joe, it is said, anticipates & requisition for his person from the
Governor of Missouri. He has the utmost horror of the idea of
being given up. Joe thinks that Judge Ford will not give him up
if he should be elected Governor.

'< Joe, it is further said, is laboring to make up the breach with
Rigdon, Pratt, o.nd others, by offers of special favor. We trust that
in this effort he will not succeed. Joe cannot now harm these men.
He will not injure them. He dare not fulfil his threats, and his

g-omises are not to be relied on. — We again call upon Messrs.
igdon and Pratt, as they regard virtue, honor, and the reputation
of their families, to come out from this Nauvoo ^ BahyUm, and
Mother of Harlots,* the home of * the whoremonger and the adul-
terer/ and *• be not a partaker of her plagues.' The developments
which have been made, must sink Joe Smith to the lowest depths
of infamy in the eyes of all honest men. He must fall so certain
aa God punishes vice and rewards virtue.

" Miss Martha H. Brotherton has done herself honor, and the cause
of virtue is greatly indebted to her for the publication she has made.
We trust her example will be followed by Mrs. Pratt and Miss
Rigdon. The holy cause of insulted virtue — of wronged innocence
— of the honor and character of families — demand that the Im-
postor BE UNVEILED AND EXHIBITED TO THE WORLD IN ALL HIS

DEFO&BiiTT. — Sangamo Joaurnal'*.

52 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

. From the Chicago •Ainerican of August 1,1842.

*' Orson Pratt. — We learn from the Warsaw Signal that this
ffentleman has gone from Nauvoo. He left a communication with
his friends which stated that he had been induced to take this course
on account of the treatment of his wife by Smith, and of the general
management of the Church by him.

'^ We furtlier learn from other sources that Smith, finding his at-
tempts on Mrs. Pratt were matters of notoriety, went to her husband
with a manufactured story that his wife was a base woman, and that
the fact was well known to him. This communication had such
an effect upon Mr. Pratt — at once blasting his happiness and the
reputation of a virtuous woman — that the wretched husband left
the city.

" It will be recollected that Mrs. Schindle, in her affidavit detail-
ing the attempt of Smith upon her, said — ^ He told her she must
never tell his propositions to her, for he had all the influence in that
place, and if she told he would ruin her character, and she would be
under the necessity of leaving.*

*^ This same scheme has been carried out in reference to Mrs.
Pratt. She ' told ' on the Impostor, and was marked by him for
destruction. In a public speech in Nauvoo on the 14th-, Joe spoke
of this lady — a woman whose reputation had been as fair as virtue
could make it until she came in contact with him — in a manner
only befitting the lowest and most degraded vagabond in existence.

"The reader can hence learn the state of society at Nauvoo.
The facts furnished are presented by the holy Joe himself.

" We do not know what course will be pursued by Mr. Pratt. If
he sinks under the denunciations and schemes of Joe Smith — if he
fails to defend the reputation of himself and of the woman he has
vowed before high Heaven to protect — he will fix a stain upon his
character which ne can never wash out, and carry to the grave the
panffs caused by ' the gnawings of the worm that never dies.'

"We trust that he will secure for himself a more honorable
position in life, and will come to the rescue of the fame of his lady,
and expose the infamous course of the Prophet, as becomes a man,
an honorable citizen, and a sincere Christian. — Sangamo Journal.**

" QI/' Joe Smith, in a speech in Nauvoo on Thursday the 14th
inst., (and which was heard by two gentlemen of our city,) said —
< He wished Bennett was in Hell! — he had given him more trouble
than any man he ever had to do with.' Joe was undoubtedly sin-
cere in this expression of his wishes.

*' In the same speech he declared that Mrs. Pratt, the wife of Mr.

O. Pratt, < had been a from her mother's breast.' This was

the lady whom Bennett says Joe attempted to seduce, and who
lesisted all his efforts with the heroism of insulted virtue.'

"In what a horrid and depraved condition society must be in
Nauvoo ! — Sangamo Journal.**

Mr. Pratt returned to Nauvoo the day after he left, and

CHARACTEB OF THE AUTHOR. 53

has since been nobly bearding the lion in his den. His
voice is lifted like ten thousand thunders against the ini-
quities of the Mormon Prophet and his minions. Pratt
is an honest man.

From the Cindnnati Bepublican of July 26, 1842 — a paper edited

by a a fVaUer, Esq,

*' QU* General Bennett, the distinguished seceder from the Mor-
mon f&ith, was in town on Sunday,, and stopped at the Broadway
Hotel. He has made so many startling disclosures of the iniquities
practised byvJoe Smith on the nobdles congregated at Nauvoo that
his life is considered in danger of the assassin's steel. He left
yesterday morning on the Ro&rt T. Lytle, for the east."

From the CvrcUmUe Herald of Jidy 29, 1842 — a paper edited by

T, /. Dams^ Esq,

" But, from his intimate and confidential relationship, J. C.
Bennett, a Mormon leader, had so far become acquainted with the
atrocious criminality of Smith's practices, and was known to stand
so high in Smith's confidence, that the latter, in order to compel
him to observe secrecy himself, and at the same time hush up the
whisperings an^ murmurings of some of his deluded followers, who
could not surrender all sense of virtue and propriety to his wicked
and impious requisitions under the plea of revelations from heaven,
compelled Bennett to make an afiidavit, and make it public in the
congregation, to the effect th|t Smith was not guilty of what had
been charged against him in his intercourse with members of the
society. Bennett subsequently witlidrew from the Church. And
now, disregarding the oath he had been compelled to take or die,
as neither legally nor morally binding upon him, he has published
a detailed exposure of Mormonism as now constituted.'*

From (he Cincinnati Gazette of July 27, 1842 — a paper edited by
the Hon, Jvdge John C. n right and J, C, Va<iignan, Esq,

" MORMONISM.

** The facts developed with regard to the conduct of Joe Smith,
the leader and first of the sect, are startling in the extreme.

" The details are too disgusting almost for publication. They
show Smith to be a monster who is using the power he possesses to
gratify a brutal lust. The proof on this point is conclusive. Lead-
mg western papers speak of the fair character of the witnesses,
aiM regard their testimony as conclusive. To give some idea of
the conduct of Joe Smith, and of the manner in which he attempts
to carry bis points, we give the testimony of Mrs. Pratt."

5»

54 BISTORT OF THE SAINTS*

Froni ihe Louistnlle Journal of July 25, 1842.

" O" We copy below, from the Sangamo Journal, the second
letter of Creneral Bennett, portraying the character and detailing the
horrible and revoltinff conduct of Joe Smith, the Prophet and leader
of the Mormons. Tlie exposition, as our readers will see, does not
rest at all upon tlie personal veracity of General Bennett himself,
but is sustained by the affidavits of men and women who cannot be
mistaken as to the facts stated, and who have no motive for misrep-
resenting them. Those facts are proved by testimony strong enough
to send any man on earth, prophet or no prophet, to the penitentiary
or the gallows."

From the Buffalo Patriot and Jourmd ofJvIy 18, 1842.

"The Mormons. — We have copied into another column the Mor-
mon disclosures of Creneral Bennett. The Sangamo Journal, in a
postscript, says, —

" * We have another communication from Creneral Bennett. Its
disclosures are horrible. We shall publish it in an extra as soon as
possible.'

" Gen. B. evidently writes under high excitement^ but there is
much in his communication that deserves attention. He shows up,
as we believe, in its true colors, one of the most stupendous schemes
of villany and reli^ous fraud and imposture that the world ever
saw. * Errors of opinion,' said Jefferson, * may be safely tolerated,
so long as reason is left free to combat them.* 'The remark is true
in its general sense, but the Mormons form an exception. Their
errors of opinion may be tolerated, but to their religious errors they
have superadded a military and political organization dangerous iii
the extreme, when wielded as it is J^y one so unscrupulous as Joe
Smith:'

From the New York Herald ofAugvst 12, 1842 — a rich and raey
paper, edited by Creneral James Gordon Bennett, LL. D.

♦'Arrival Extraordinary. — The celebrated General John
Cooke Bennett arrived in this city yesterday. He is preparing to

Sublish a book, which is to be a full and complete history of the
lormons, public and private — the secrets of their religion — tlieir
mode of life at Nauvoo — the celebrated Prophet Joe Smith's secret
system of wives — their mode of warfare — tactics — civil and reli-
gious government — with various other curious and perfectly origi-
nal matters. It will be one of the richest brochures that ever ema-
nated from the press of any country."

From the Wabash Express — a paper published at Terre Haute,

"MORMON TROUBLES — EXPOSE.

" We publish a very singular document from Gen. John C Ben-
nett, a distinguished Mormon, dated at Nauvoo, June 27. It ap-

J

CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOR. 55

pears that himaelf and the Prophet, Joe Smith, have had a regular
separation. If half what Gren. Bennett states be true, tlie new
teacher is a most hardened sinner, deserving a place in the Alton

gsnitentiary, instead of a high rank in the community of Latter Day
aints.

" The writer speaks with great freedom, and in a spirit of daring
bravery. Bennett has held a high rank in the Nauvoo Legion —
a body of troops weU disciplined ; and he is spoken of, in some of
the eastern papers, as a man of eminent mihtary talents."

From ihe JVew York Sun of August 5, 1842 — a paper of very ex-
tensive circulation and great usefulness.

"The Mormon Revelations. — We watch tlie further move
ments of the Mormon expounded, and the Anti-Mormon expounder,
with some degree of anxiety, as affording a thorough explanation to
the philosophv of fanaticism, whose victims we so frequently find
recorded in the history of civilization. This pretty family quarrel
between the Mormon chiefs, whether it originated in motives of pu-
rity or in pitiable incentives to ffain, will carry its salutary effects
throughout the controversy. We doubt not that Joe Smith is a
shrewd and cunnmg man, but John C. Bennett is more than a match
for him even in these qualities of modern science. There was an al-
most inconceivable moral couraffe in a man of our age, who, unedu-
cated in political sciences, could call together a mighty host of un-
civilized human beings, and finally adopt the ho^ privileges of
the ancient prophetic race.

" The rule of our male Cassandra, our modem Jacob — a combined
prophet and patriarch — could not last forever. He has degenerated
from the religious moralist and priest into the lowest grade of chi-
canery and vice ; he stands before us a swindler of his community,
an impious dictator over free will, and now in his most glaring, and
even hideous, aspect — a libertine, unequalled in civilized life — a
Giovanni of some dozens of mistresses, and these acquired under the
garb of prophetic zeal. However unworthy may be the instrument
of this exposition, he is deserving of thanks, and may be absolved
from some taints of immorality by becoming an evidence for the
moral commonwealth. The state of these revelations, although not
contain&d in the * Book of Mormon,' or viewed by the divine inspi-
ration of Joe's stone spectacles, will soon assume tlie settled princi-
ples of truth, and must bear conviction to the misled and ill-treated
sect.

'^ Bennett now has blasted the spiritual and temporal Joseph Smith
with a charge of horrid crimes ; and Joe, in return for these favors,
will attempt to blast the temporal and mortal John G. Bennett with
a charge of still more horrid gunpowder. Both explosions will
make a noise in the world ^ the moral one from the mouth of fame,
the igneous one firom the mouth of a pistol. At all events, both
combatants appear booked on the calendar of fate — one for punish-
ment in the next world, the other for a still less agreeable infliction

56 BISTORT OF THE SAINTS.

in this small sphere. Up to this time, however, the only murder
committed, is mat of the *• King's English.'

" We firmly trust that the punishment of Smith will be heavy in
the extreme : his fate should be a warning to those itinerant mongers
of religion, who, in every guise and form, infest the community ;
who steal away the dearest giils of God, and render desolate firesides
by their obscenity and lust. We have now an exponent of the mod-
em philosophy of religious fanaticism ; the rise of Mahomet is no
longer a problem ', his effigy of the nineteenth century has been de-
stroyed. We have long expected this discovery, and now it comes ;
the wires are withdrawn from the animated puppet, and the excited
Fantoceini twist and turn, without harmony or concord. The ruler
and the sceptre have passed away ; hypocrisy and error can no long-
er bear the powerful test of sincerity, truth, and morality.

" * Error,' observed a scholiast, * De^ts a le^on of followers,' and
the Mormon fanaticism has fulfilled this prediction. It has conquered
the Nauvoo Legion, but soon it will exist in name alone ; its numbers
are fast diminishing. Combination of societies, founded on religious
and social basis, will be henceforth regarded with distrust, as weapons
of misrule -^ instruments placed in the hands of designing oligarchs.
Charity, benevolence, sympathy, and pure religion, require no asso-
ciations to forward their plans ; they are the mgredients of every
well-formed, cultivated mmd."

From the St. Louis BvUetin of July 14, 1842 — a ttsefvl paper,
edited by Vespasian Ellis, Esq. and Wm. T, Yeomans, Esq.

"MoRHONisH.' — The disclosures being made by Gen. Bennett in
relation to this sect, are far from being void of interest. We publish
to-day some matters from Bennett m relation to the attempted as-
sassincttion of Gov. Boggs, which are at least of suffi.cient importance
to be inquired into. One of their own papers, the Nauvoo Wasp,
while defending Smith from any participation in the matter, gloried
in the act, for it says, *■ It remains to be knovm toko did the noble
deed.' Apart from the act of which he is accessory, there are now
pending against him in this State indictments for crimes sufficient
not only to predicate a demand upon, but to induce the Governor of
Illinois to give him up."

From (he JVew York TatUer of September 5, 1842 — an interesting
and influential periodical issued by Dillon and Hooper.

'^ The exposures which Greneral J. C. Bennett is making of the
Mormon humbug in the west, are unique, rich, astonishing, and
comical beyond precedent. It seems that there is a systematic
course of carnal delight, for the especial behalf of Joe Smitn and his
iavored few.

«* We think the effect of making these scandalous things publio
will be to deter people from giving any credence to the Mormon &•
natics."

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTER. 57

s

lYom ffie New York Tribune of September 1, 1842 — a very pop-
viar and influential paper edUea hy Horace GreeUy, Esq. and
McElrath.

" From Nauvoo. — We were yesterday favored with the perusal
of several private letters from this metropolis of the modern False
Prophet. . All is in confusion there. Joe Smith and O. P. Rockwell
were in hiding at the last accounts — of course, within or about the
city — to avoid obeying the process from Missouri. It was given
out that Joe would appear and stand a trial before the Nauvoo Court 1
but would not be carried off to Missouri. Every effort was being
made to counteract the revelations of Gen. J. C. Bennett, and to in-
duce those to whom he appeals in his published statements to come
out against them. Thus far the success has been trifling. Several
are preparing to leave Nauvoo and Mormonism ; some of them will
come out with statements sustaining Bennett. Among the females
there is a very natural reluctance to publishing statements at all.
We suspect the Prophet's * spiritual * race is nearly run."

From the foregoing, docaments and extracts, the public
can judge of the: qharacter and standing of the author of
this work, and of the opinion entertained of his disclosures
by many of the principal leading journals of the country.

i

>

/

. »

JGE SMITH — HIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTER.

Under this head, I shall make free extracts from *' Mor-
monism Portrayed," by Rev. William Harris ; and ** Mor-
monism Unveiled," by E. D. Howe, Esq. ;• and v/ind up
with some original affidavits, or statements.

From ^Mormonism Portrayed,^ by Rev, William Harris.

- ' <' The great noise which Smith has made, and the influence
which he now sways in the world, is a striking illustration of what
a man may attain through impudence. The scheme of Mormonism
is too deep ever to admit the supposition that he is the dupe of
his own imposture. His claims are such that they must be ad-
mitted as true, or he must be branded as a consummate knave —
for his works^plainly show that he is neither a fool, nor a fanatic,
but a deliberate designer, who ii^tends the whole scheme which he
has set in operation, for the gratiflcation of his own vanity and self-

/

58 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

jshness. in order to show this, I design to set forth, first, the claims
which Smith makes for himself, and secondly, his real character.

" On page 177 of the Book of Covenants, you have the titles of
Smith, in the following language : — * Behold thereshall be a record
kept' amongst you, and in it thou (Smith)- shalt be called a seer, a
translator, a prophet; an Apostle of Jesus Christ, and an elder of the
Churdh.' And on page 88, * a revelator, like unto Moses, having
all the gifts of God, which he bestows upon the head of the Church.^

" On page 126, Book of Covenants, it appears that he is the only
one to receive revelations for the Church. ' And this ye shall know
assuredly, that there is none other appointed unto you to receive
commandments and revelations, until he is taken, if he abide in me.'

" On page 177, Book of Covenants, you have his power over the

Church. * Wherefore, (meaning the Church,) thou shalt give heed

y \ unto all bis words and commandments^ virhich he shall give unto

you, AND HIS WORDS YE SHALL RECEIVE AS IF FROM MY OWN MOUTH.

Mark this revelation, for it is important in a political point of view.
By this we are told that the Church is to obey all the words and
commands of Smith, as though they were from the mouth of the
Lord, both in things spiritueu BJid temporal. Now, I ask the com-
munity, while men are duped, as we know- that they are, is not
I Mormohism inimical to the institutions of our country ? Cannot
\ Smith, at any time, set himself up as superior to the civil law .'' Can
he not commit any act of depredation, and screen himself from pun-
ishment ? Can he, ah ! does he, not control the votes of his follow-
ers i,-^ Let the ballot-box, at every election where they have voted,
'^ answer, and it will be found that they have voted, almost to a man,
jwith Smith. Is not this contrary to tlie spirit of our free institu-
tions ^ Is it not an imposition on the rights of the other citizens,
who enter into the civil compact only on me condition that all shall
think and act for themselves ? Carry out the principle. Suppose
that the Mormons should become a majority of the citizens of the
State of Illinois, where they are now concentrating their numbers ;
would it be right that such a majority, controlled by one man^
should rule ^ Would not such a state of things be a total subver-
sion of Republicanism, and the establishment, in effect, of a des-
potism? If so, the principle is the same while they are in the
minority. But I digress.

*' On page 112, Book of Covenants, he claims exemption from tem-
poral labor. ' And in temporal labor thou shalt not have strength,
for this is not thy calling ; attend to thy calling, and thou shalt have
wherewith to magnify thy office. And again I say unto you, that
if ye desire the mysteries of the kingdom, provide for him food and
raiment, and whatsoever thing he needeth, to accomplish the work.'
Now, every one who has any knowledge of Smith, knows that the
averment in this revelation is not true ; for he is a large, portly
man, remarkable for physical strength. It was, then, evidently de-
signed merely to excuse his laziness, and enable him to suck a live-
lihood fr6m his followers.

[His age is 37 years — his height, 6 feet — and his weight, 212
pounds.]
« On page 180, Book of Covenants, Smith claims to have been

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTER. 59

ordained by John the Baptist, in the presence of our ancient fathers,
Joseph, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham and Adam, to the Aaronic priest-
hood ; and also, on the same page, is an account of his ordination
to the Melchisedec priesthood, by Peter, James, and John. Now,
what better evidence can be adduced, of the total ignorance of this
man, respecting the nature of the priesthood, than is here afforded ?
What is the omce and calling of a priest ? St. Paul says, it is to
* offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.' A priesthood cannot, there-
fore, exist in the Christian church — Christ having been offered as a
complete sacrifice for all. And St. Paul, in Heb. vii. 18, speaking
of the priesthood, says, ' For there is verily a disannulling of the
commandments going before, for the weakness and unproJUablertess
thereof; ' and in the 17th verse, he says, * For he, (the Fatlier,) tes-
tifieth, thou, (Christ,) art a priest forever, afler the order of Mel-
chisedec' Now here, as by the whole tenor of the apostle's argu-
ment, it appears that the Aaronic and Levitical priesthoods were
done away, and Christ created sole priest, forever y after the order
of Melchisedec. He, then, is the only priest known to the Chris-
tian religion. But this Latter Day Prophet has risen up to tell the
world that God has annulled his former decrees, and revived the old
priesthood which was abolished for its weakness and .unprofitable-
ness ; and that Christ is stripped of the ofiice which was given him
forever, and he, Smith, made successor to him — claiming, thereby,
to be equal in official dignity to the Mediator ; and that too, when
Ch]4st, according to the apostles, was made a priest after the order
of Melchisedec, because the priesthood would be in him unchange-
able. Was there ever more abominable blasphemy .'*

"'By reference to page 181, Book of Covenants, it will appear that
Smith is at the head of the Mormon Church. ' And thou shalt not ;
commaijd him who is at the head of the Church.' And, in the Book '
of Mormon, page 66 : ' And he shall be great, like unto Moses.'

" Search the annals of infallible Rome ! Read the history of her
most aspiring pretenders, and where was there ever assumed higher
titles, greater authority, or more immaculate holiness, than is now
assumed by this image of the beast, arisen in these latter days !

" In reviewing these claims of Smith, what a striking contrast is
presented between him and the apostles ! They acknowledged no
head but Christ ; they sought no titles but those of apostles, ser-
vants, or ministers ot the New Covenant. All were permitted to
receive revelations for the church — all were on a level, as regards
their authority. But Smith, not satisfied with calling himself a
seer, a prophet, and a revelator, claims to be * great like unto Mo-
ses.' It almost seems like blasphemy ; but, as thousands profesfi to
believe in the claims of this empty pretender, it becomes a duty to
expose their weakness in the most effectual manner possible.

*'^ Let us, then, ask, where is the least point of analogy between
these men ? We read of Moses being sent by God, from me burning
bush to deliver the Israelites from under the tyranny of Pharaoh, of
the signs and wonders that attested his mission, of his leading the
people out, of tlieir journeying through the wilderness, of the division
of the Red Sea, of the cloudy and fiery pillar that went before to

60 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

guide Uiem in the way, of angel's food and quails for their subsist-
ence, of rivers of water flowing from the flinty rock to satiate their
thirst, of the miraculous durability of their clothing, of their glorious
reception of the lively oracles, the cloud overshadowing, the moun-
tain shaking, the trump of God waxing louder and louder, the voice
of Nature's Author heard, his glory manifested, the people quaking,
and all this in attestation of the divinity of the mission of Moses,
and the laws of Jehovah.

" Now, what is there in the history of your Latter Day Prophet,
that can compare with this ? Where was the power of this pretender
to work miracles, when his followers, fainting with hunger, were
famished on the way ? Where was he, when their enemies pressed
sore upon them, threatening destruction P Did he' then give even
the slightest assistance to his people ? No ! on the contrary, he led
the flight. Give us, then, at least, one well-authenticated and in-
contestable instance of the miraculous power of this man, before he
is claimed to be great like unto Moses.

" But where is there any analogy in the character of the two men .'
Moses was said to be the meekest and one of the most benevolent
and upright of men. Now, is there any of this meekness in the
character of Smith P Let his harangues to his people speak, let his
own writings speak, and they will show him to be one of the most
vindictive men that can be produced. And what evidence is there
of his benevolence P At the very time that the widows of the Church,
and, indeed, the poorer class, were suffering^ for want of the com-
mon necessaries of life, Smith demanded atuie hands of the people,
twelve hundred dollars per year, in order to aggrandize himself, and
enable him to live in luxury. And when some complained that
this would be a violation of the rules of the Church, he remarked,
that if he could not obtain his demand, his people miffht go to hell,
and he would go to the Rocky Mountains ! And this, too, when
tl^e Bishop is appointed by revelation, to deal out to every man
according to his wants. Here, then, is a beautiful specimen of his
benevolence — he must have his enormous demands satisfied, though
his people starve, even bv breaking throuffh the laws of the Church.
Where was thjsre any tning like Moses m this P But look at his
example before his people. At the very time that their enemies
were pressing them, he was found, like a giddy boy, or an abandoned
renegade, wrestling for amusement, on the Sabbath day ; and when
reproved, said, * Never mind, it is a time of war.' Those who were
with Smith at the periods referred to, know that these things are
true. And what do they show P Any thing but a Moses.

^' Having now shown the emptiness of Smith's claims, let us, for
a moment, inquire into his real origin and character. The following
remark is from the Rev. John A. Clark, of the city of Philadelphia,
but formerly of Palmyra, New York : —

^< < Joe Smith, who has since been the chief Prophet of the Mor-
mons, and was one of the most prominent ostensible actors in the
first scenes of this drama, belonged to a very shiftless family near
Palmyra. They lived a sort of vagrant life, and were principally
known as Money-Diggers. Joe, from a boy, appeared dull, and ut-

JOE SMITH ms CLAIMS AND CHARACTER. 61

terly destitute of genius ; but his father claimed for him a sort of
second sight, a power to look into the depths of the earth, and dis-
cover where its precious treasures were hid. Consequently, long
before the. idea of a Golden Bible entered their minds, in their
excursions for money-digging, which, I believe, usually occurred in
the night, that they might conceal from others the knowledge of the
place where they struck upon treasures, Joe used to be usually their
ruide, putting into a hat a peculiar stone he had, through wmch he
ooked to decide where they should begin to dig.' "

fc

IVom Mormoniam UnveUedy hy E. D, Hoioe^ Esq.

" We next present to the reader, a few, among the many depo-
sitions which have been obtained from the neighborhood of the
Saiith family, and the scene where the far-famed Gold Bible had
its pretended origin.

" The divine authenticity of the Gold Bible, or the Book of Mor-
mon, is established by three special and eight collateral witnesses,
making in the whole eleven, without whom there is no pretension
to testimony ; and if their testimony is probable and consistent with
truth, and unimpeached, according to the common rules of juris-
prudence, we are bound to believe uiem.

" Upon the principles of common law, we are prepared to meet
them ; and they are offered to us in no other light. Under all cir-
cumstances, in civil and ecclesiastical tribunals, witnesses may be
impeached, and ailer a fair hearing, on both sides, the veracity and
credibility may be adjudged.

" If the eleven witnesses are considered, from what has already
been said, unimpeached, we will offer the depositions of some of the
most respectable citizens of our country, who solemnly declare upon
their oaths that no credit can be given to any one member of the
Smith family. Many witnesses declare that they are in the pos-
session of the means of knowing the Smiths for truth and veracity,
and that they are not upon a par with mankind in general. Then,
according to the common rules of weighing testimony, the eleven
witnesses stand impeached before the public ; and, until rebutting
testimony can be produced which shall go to invalidate the respect-
able host which are here offered, we claim that no credit can or
ought to be given to the witnesses to the Book of Mormon.

" We have not only testimony impeaching the moral characters
of the Smith family, but we show, by the witnesses, that they told
contradictory stories, from time to time, in relation to their finding
the plates, and other circumstances attending it, which go clearly
to show that none of them had the fear of God before their eyes,
but were moved and instigated by the devil.

" Palmyba, Wayne County, N. Y., Dee, 2, 1833.

" I, Peter IngersoU, first became acquainted with the family of
Joseph Smith, Sen. in the year of our Lord, 1822. I lived in the
neighborhood of said family, until about 1830; during which time
the following facts came under my observation.

6

02 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

•* The general employment of the family, was digging for money.
1 had frequent invitations to join the company, but always declined
being one of their number. They used various arguments to induce
me to accept of their invitations. I was once ploughing near the
house of Josepii Smith, Sen., about noon, he requested me to walk
with him a short distance from his house, for the purpose of seeing
whether a mineral rod would work in my hand, saying, at the same
time, he was confident it would. As my oxen were eating, and
being myself at leisure, 1 accepted the invitation. When we arrived
near the place at which he thought there was money, he cut a small
witch-hazel bush, and gave me direction how to hold it. He then
went off some rods, and told me to say to the rod, *■ Work to the
money,' which I did, in an audible voice. He rebuked me severely
for speaking it loud, and said it must be spoken in a whisper. This
was rare sport for me. While the old man was standing off some
rods, throwing himself into various shapes, I told him the rod did
not work. He seemed much surprised at this, and said he thought
he saw it move in my hand. It was now time for me to return to
my labor. On my return, I picked up a small stone and was care-
lessly tossing it from one hand to the other. Said he, (looking very
earnestly,) * What are you going to do with that stone? ' * Throw
it at the birds,' I replied. ^ No,' said the old man, ' it is of great
worth J ' and upon this, I gave it to him. ' Now,* says he, ' if you
only knew the value there is back of my house,' and pointing to a
place near, ' there^^ exclaimed he, * is one chesbof gold, and another of
silver.' He then put the stone which I had given him, into his hat,
and stooping forward, he bowed and made sundry manceuvres, quite
sunilar to those of a stool-pigeon. At length, he took down his hat,
and, being very much exhausted, said, in a faint voice, *■ Lf you
knew what I had seen, you would believe.' To see the old man
thus try to impose upon me, I confess, rather had a tendency to
excite contempt than pity. Yet I thought it best to conceal my
feelings, preferring to appear the dupe of my credulity, than to ex-
pose myself to his resentment. His son Alvin then went thiough
with the same performance, which was equally distrusting.

" Another time, the said Joseph, Sen., told me that the best time
for digging money, was in the heat of summer, when the heat of
the sun caused the chests of money to rise near the top of th6
ground. 'You notice,' said he, Hhe large stones on the top of the
ground — we call them rocks, and they truly appear so, but they are,
m fact, most of them chests of money raised by the heat of the sun.*

" At another time, he told me that the ancient inhabitants of this
country used camels instead of horses. For proof of this fact, he
stated that in a certain hill, on the farm of Mr. Cuyler, there was a
cave containing an immense value of gold and silver, stands of arms,
also, a saddle mr a camel, hanging on a peg, at one side of the cave.
I asked him of what kind of wood the peg was. He could not tell,
but said it had become similar to stone or iron.

*' The old man, at last, laid a plan which he thought would ac*
complish his design. His cows and mine had been gone for somci
time, and were not to be found, notwithstanding our diligent search
for them. Day after day was spent in fruitless search, until, at

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTER. 63

length, he proposed to find them b^ hk art of divination. So he
took his stand near the corner of his house, with a small stick in
his hand, and made several strange and peculiar motions, and then
said he could go directly to the cows. So he started off, and went
into the woods, about one hundred rods distant, and found the lost
cows. But, on finding out the secret of the mystery, Harrison had
found the cows, and drove them to the above-named place, and
milked them. So that this stratagem turned out rather more to his
profit than it did to my edification. The old man, finding that all bis
efforts to make me a money-digger had proved abortive, at length
ceased his importunities. One circumstance, however, I will men«
tion, before leaving him. Some time before young Joseph found,
or pretended to find, the gold plates, the old man told me tliat in
Canada, there had been a book found, in a hollow tree, that gave an
account of the first settlement of this country, before it was dis-
covered by Columbus.

'' In the month of August, 1^27, I was hired by Joseph Smith,
Jr., to go to Pennsylvania, to move his wife's household furniture
up to Manchester, where his wife then was. When we arrived at
Mr. Hale's, in Harmony, Pa., from which place he had taken his
wife, a scene presented itself, truly affecting. His father-in-law
(Mr. Hale,) addressed Joseph, in a flood of tears : ^ You have stolen
my daughter, and married her. I had much rather have followed
her to her grave. You spend your time in digging for money —
pretend to see in a stone, and thus try to deceive people.' Joseph
wept, and acknowledged he could not see in a stone nowy nor kever
coDLD ; and that his former pretensions in that respect, were all
fiilse. He then promised to give up his old habits of digging for
money and looking into stones. Mr. Hale told Joseph, if he would
move to Pennsylvania and work for a living, he would assist him in
getting into business. Joseph acceded to this proposition. I then
returned with Joseph and his wife to Manchester. One circum-
stance occurred, on the road, worthy of notice, and 1 believe this is
the only instance where Joe ever exhibited true Yankee wit. On our
journey to Pennsylvania, we could not make the exact cha^ge at
the toll gate near Ithaca. Joseph told the gate tender that he would
'hand' him the toll on bis return, as he was Coming back in a few
days. On our return, Joseph tendered to him 25 cents, the toll
being 12^. He did not recognize Smith, so he accordingly gave
him hack the 12^ cents. Afler we had passed the gate, I asked him
if he did not agree to pay double gatage on our return? * No,' said
he, *■ I agreed to hand it to him, and I did, but be handed it back
again.'

*•*• Joseph told mCf on his return, that he intended to keep the
promise which he had made to his father-in-law ; ' but,' said he, * it
will be hard for me, for they will all oppose, as they want me to
look in the stone for them to dig money.' And, in fact, it was as
he predicted. They urged him, day after day, to resume his old
practice of looking in the stone. He seemed much perplexed as to
the course he should, pursue. In this dilemma, he made me his
confidant, and told me what daily transpired in the family of Smiths.
One day he came and greeted me, with a joyful countenance.

64 HISTORT OF THE SAINTS. *

Upon asking the cause of his unusual happiness, he replied in the
following language : ' As I was passing, yesterday, across the woods,
after a heavy shower of rain, I found, m a hollow, some beautiful
white sand, that had been washed up by the water. I took off my
frock, and tied up several quarts of it, and then went home. On
my entering the house, I found the family at the table, eating din-
ner. They were all'^anxious to know the contents of my frock. At
that moment, I happened to think of what I had heard about a his-
tory found in Canada, called the golden Bible ; so I very gravely
told them it was the golden Bible. To my surprise, tney were
credulous enough to believe what I said. Accordingly I told them
that I had received a commandment to let no one see it ; for, says
I, no man can see it with the naked eye and live. However, I
offered to take out the book and show it to them, but they refused
to see it, and left the room. Now,' said Joe, ' I have got the damned
fools fixed, and will carry out the fun.' Notwithstanding, he told
me he had no such book, and believed there never was any such
book, yet, he told me that he actually went to Willard Chase, to get
him to make a chest, in which he might deposit his golden Bible.
But, as Chase would not do it, he made a box himself, of clapboards,
and put it into a pillow-case, and allowed people only to lift it, and
feel of it through the case.

^ In the fall of 1827, Joseph wanted to go to Pennsylvania. His
brother-in-law had come to assist him in moving, but he himself
was out of money. He wished to borrow the money of me, and he
presented Mr. Hale as security. I told him in case he could obtain
assistance from no other source, I would let him have some money.
Joseph then went to Palmyra; and said he, 'I there met that
damn fool Martin Harris, and told him that I had a command to ask
the first honest man I met with for fifty dollars in money, and he
would let me have it. I saw at once,' said Joe, * that it took his no-
tion, for he promptly gave me the fifty-'

" Joseph mougnt this sum was sufficient to bear his expenses to
Pennsylvania ; so he immediately started off, and since that time I
have not been much in his society. While the Smiths were living at
Waterloo, William visited my neighborhood ; and, upon mv inquiry
how they came on, he replied, ' We do better there than here ; we
were too well known here to do much.' Peter Iitoersoll.

" Stats or Nbw Yoex, i
Wayne County, j "*

** I certify, that on this 9th day of December, 1833, personally
appeared before me the above-named Peter Ingersoll, to me known,
and made oath, according to law, to the trutn of the above state-
ment. ''Th. p. Baldwin,

^^ Judge of Wayne County Court,''

" Testimony of William Stafford.

*< MANCHxtTSR, Ontario County, N. Y. Deumbtr 8, 1833.
**I, William Stafford, having been called upon to give a true
statement of my knowledge, concerning the character and conduet

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTER. 65

of the family of Smiths, known to the world as the founders of the
Mormon sect, do say, that I first became acquainted with Joseph,
Sen., and his family, in the year 1820. They lived, at that time, in
Palmyra, about one mile and a half from my residence. A great
part of their time was devoted to digging for money : especially in
the night time, when they said the money could be most easily ob-
tained. I have heard them tell marvellous tales, respecting the
discoveries they had made in their peculiar occupation of money
digging. They would say, for instance, that in such a place, in such
a hill, on a certain man's farm, there were deposited keys, barrels
and hogsheads of coined silver and gold — bars of gold, golden
images, brass kettles filled with gold and silver — ffold candlesticks,
swords, &c. &c. They would say, also, that nearly all the hills in
this part of New York, were thrown up by human hands, and in
them were large caves, which Joseph, Jr., could see, by placing a
stone of singular appearance in his hat, in such a manner as to
exclude all light; at which time they pretended he could see all
things within and under the earth, — that he coald see within the
above-mentioned caves, large ffold bars and silver plates, — tliat he
could also discover the spirits m whose charge these treasures were,
clothed in ancient dress. At certain times, these treasures could be
obtained very easily ; at others, the obtaining of them was difficult.
The facility of approaching them, depended, in a great measure, on
the state of the moon. New moon and good Friday, I believe, were
regarded as the most favorable times for obtaining these treasures
These tales I regarded as visionary. However, being prompted by
curiosity, I at length accepted of their invitations, to join them in
their nocturnal excursions. I will now relate a few incidents
attending these excursions.

'* Joseph :6mith. Sen., came to me one night, and told me, that
Joseph, Jr.^ had been looking in his glass, and had seen, not many
rods from his house, two or three kegs of gold and silver, some feet
under the surface of the earth ; and that none others but the elder
Joseph and myself could get them. I accordingly consented to go,
and early in the evening repaired to the place of deposit. Joseph,
Sen., first made a circle, twelve or fourteen feet in diameter. This
circle, said he, contains the treasure. He then stuck in the ground
a row of witch-hazel sticks, around the said circle, for the purpose
of keeping off the evil spirits. Within this circle he made another,
of about eight or ten feet in diameter. He walked around three
times on the periphery of this last circle, muttering to himself some-
thing which I could not understand. He next stuck a steel rod in
the centre of the circles, and then enjoined profound silence upon us,
lest we should arouse the evil spirit who had the charge of these
treasures. After we had dug a trench about five feet in depth
around the rod, the old man, by signs and motions, asked leave
of absence, and went to the house to inquire of youn^ Joseph the
cause of our disappointment. He soon returned, an4 said, that
Joseph had remained all this time in the house, looking in his stone
and watching the motions of the evil spirit ' — that he saw the spirit
come up to the ring, and as soon as it beheld the cdne which we had

6»

66 HISTORY or THE SAINTS.

formed around the rod, it caused the money to sink. We then went
into the house, and the old man observed, that we had made a mis-
take in the commencement of the operation ; if it had not been for
that, said he, we should have ^ot the money.

" At another time, Ihey devised a scheme, by which they might
satiate their hunger with the mutton of one of my sheep. They
had seen in my flock of sheep, a large, fat, black wether. Old
Joseph and one of the boys came to me one day, and said that Joseph,
Jr., had discovered some very remarkable and valuable treasures,
which could be procured only in one way. That way Vas as fol-
lows : — That a black sheep should be taken on to the ground where
the treasures were concealed — that afler cutting its throat, it should
be led around a circle while bleeding. This being done, the wrath of
the evil spirit would be appeased : the treasures could then be ob-
tained, and my share of them was to be four-fold. To gratify my
curiosity, I let them have a lar^e fat sheep. They afterwards in-
formed me that the sheep was\illed pursuant to commandment;
but as there was some mistake in the process, it did not have the
desired effect. This, I believe, is the only time tliey ever made
money-digging a profitable business. ' They, however, had around
tiiem constantly a worthless gang, whose employment it was to dig
money nights, and who, day times, had more to do with mutton
than money.

" When they found that the people of this vicinity would no
longer put any faith in their schemes for digging monev, they then
pretended to nnd a Gold Bible, of which, they said, the !Dook of Mor-
mon was only an introduction. This latter book was at length fitted
for the press. No means were taken by any individual to suppress
its publication : no one apprehended any danger from a book, origi-
nating with individuals who had neither influence, honesty or honor.
The two Josephs and Hiram, promised to show me the plates, afler
the Book of Mormon was translated. But, afterwards, they pre-
tended to have received an express commandment, forbidding them
to show the plates. Respecting the manner of receiving and trans-
lating the Book of Mormon, their statements were always discordant.
The elder Joseph would say that he had seen the plates, and that he
knew them to be gold ; at other times he would say that they looked
like gold; and other times he would say he had not seen the plates
at all. I have thus briefly stated a few of the facts, in illation to
the conduct and character of this family of Smiths ; probably suffi-
cient has been stated without mv going into detail.

"William Stafford.

" Stats of New York, i
Wayne County, \ ""•

" I certify, that on this 9th day of December, 1833, personallv
appeared before me William Stafford, to me known, and made oath
to the truth of the above statement, and signed the same.

" Th. ?. Baldwin,
*^ Judge of Wayne County Court.**

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTER. 67

« TesHmony of WUlard Chase.

*' Makcmsster, Ontario Coaoty, New York, 1633.

*' 1 became aequainted with the Smith family, known as the authors
of the Mormon Bible, in the year 1820. At that time, they were
engaged in the money-digging business, which they followed until
the latter part of the season of 1827. In the year Ibi&i I was en-
gaged in digging a well. ' I employed Alvin and Joseph Smith to
assist me; the latter of whom is now known as the Mormon Prophet.
Afler digging about twenty feet below the surface of the earth, we
discovered a singularly appearing stone, which excited my curiosity.
I brought it to the top of the well, and as we were examining it,
Joseph put it into bis hat, and then his face into the top/>f his nat.
It has been said by Smith, that he brought the stone from the well ;
bat this is falae. There was no one in the well but myself. The
next morning he came to me, and wished to obtain the stone, alleg-
ing that he could see in it ; but I told him I did not wish to part with
it, on account of its being a curiosity, but would lend it. Afler
obtaining the stone, he began to publish abroad what wonders he
could discover by looking in it, and made so much disturbance
among the credulous part of community, that I ordered the stone to
be returned to me again. He had it in his possession about two
years. I believe, some time in 1825, Hiram Smith, (brother of Joseph
Smith,) came to me, and wished to borrow the same stone, alleging
that they wanted to accomplish some business of importance, which
could not very well be done without the aid of the stone. I told
him it was of no particular worth to me, but merely wished to keep
it as a curiosity, and if he would pledge me his word and honor that
I should have it when called for, he might take it ; which he did,
and took the stone. I thought I could rely on his word at this time,
as he bad made a profession of religion. But in this I was dis-
appointed, for he disregarded both his word and honor.

^ In the fall of 1626, a friend called upon me, and wished to see
that stone, about which so much had been said ; and I told him, if
he would go with me to Smith's, (a distance of about half a mile,) he
might see it. But, to my surprise, on going to Smith's, and asking
him for the stone, he said, ' You cannot have it ; ' I told him it be-
longed to me, repeated to him the promise he made me, at the time
of obtaining the stone : upon which he faced me with a malignant
look, and said, * I don't care who in the Devil it belongs to, you
shall not have it.'

** In the month of June, 1827, Joseph Smith, Sen., related to me
the following story : ^ That some years ago, a spirit had appeared to
Joseph his son, in a vision, and informed him tnat in a certain place
there was a record on plates of gold, and that he was the person that
must obtain them, and this he must do in the following manner :
On the 22d of September, he must repair to the place where was de-
posited this manuscript, dressed in black clothes, and riding a black
horse, with a switch tail, and demand the book in a certain name, and
afler obtaining it he must go directly away, and neither lay it down
nor look behind him. They accordingly fitted out Joseph with a suit

68 HISTOfiY OF TU£ SAINTS.

of black clothes and borrowed a black horse. He repaired to the place
of deposit and demanded the book, which was in a stone box, un-
sealed, and so near the top of the ground that he could see one end
of it, and raising it up, took out the book of gold ; but fearing some
one might discover where he got it, he laid it down to place back the
top stone, as he found it; and turning round, to his surprise there
was no book in sight. He again opened the box, and in it saw the
book, and attempted to take it out, but was hindered. He saw in
the box something like a toad, which soon assumed the appearance
of a man, and struck him on the side of his head. Not being dis-
couraged at trifles, he again stooped down and strove to take the
book, when the spirit struck him again, and knocked him three or
four rods, and hurt him prodigiously. Afler recovering from his
fright, he inquired why he could not obtain the plates ; to which the
spu'it made reply, because you have not obeyed your orders. He
then inquired when he could have them, and was answered thus :
Come one year from this day, and bring with you your oldest
brother, and you shall have them. This spirit, he said, was the
spirit of the prophet who wrote this book, and who was sent to
Joseph Smith, to make known, these things to him. Before the
expiration of the year, his oldest brother died ; which the old man
said was an accidentai providence !

'* Joseph went one year from that day, to demand the book, and
the spirit inquired for his brother, and he said that he was dead. The
spirit then commanded him to come again, in just one year, and
bring a man with him. On asking who might be the man, he was
answered that he would know him when he saw him.

** Joseph believed that one Samuel T. Lawrence was the man al-
luded to by the spirit, and went with him to a singular looking hill,
in Manchester, and showed him where the treasure was. Lawrence
asked him if he had ever discovered anv thing with the plates of
gold ; he said no ; he then asked him to look in his stone, to see if
Uiere was any thing with them. He looked, and said there was
nothing ; he told him to look again, and see if there was not a large
pair of specs with the plates ; he looked and soon saw a pair of
spectacles, the same with which Joseph says he translated the Book
of Mormon. Lawrence told him it would not be prudent to let these
plates be seen for about two years, as it would make a great disturb-
ance in the neighborhood. Not long afler this Joseph altered his
mind, and said L. was not the right man, nor had he told him the
right place. About this time he went to Harmony in Pennsylvania,
and formed an acquaintance with a young ladv by the name of Em-
ma Hale, whom he wished to marry. In the fall of 18S6 he wanted
to go to Pennsylvania to be married ; but being destitute of means,
he now set his wits to work how he should raise money, and get
recommendations, to procure the fkir one of his choice. He went to
Lawrence with the following story, as related to me by Lawrence
himself. That he had discovered in Pennsylvania, on the bank of
the Susquehannah River, a very rich mine of silver, and if he would
go there with him, he might have a share in the profits ; that it was
near high-water maxk, and that they could load it into boats and

JOE SMITH BIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTER. 69

take it down the river to Philadelphia, to market. Lawrence then
asked Joseph if he was not deceiving him ; no, said he, for I have
been there and seen it with my own eyes, and if you do not find it
so when we get there, I will bind myself to be your servant for three
years. By these grave and fair promises Lawrence was induced to
believe something in it, and agreed to so with him. L. soon found
that Joseph was out of money, and had to bear his expenses on the
way. When they got to Pennsylvania, Joseph wanted L. to recom-
mend him to Miss H., which he did, although he was asked to do
it; but could not well ^t rid of it as he was in his company. L.
then wished to see the silver mine, and he and Joseph went to the
river, and made search, but found nothing. Thus Lawrence had
his trouble for his pains, and returned home lighter than he went,
while Joseph had got his expenses borne, and a recommendation to
his ffirl.

"Joseph's next move was to get married ; the girl's parents beinff
opposed to the match : as they happened to be from home, he took
advantage of the opportunity, and went off with her and was mar-
ried.

" Now, being still destitute of money, he set his wits at work how
he should get back to Manchester, his place of residence 3 he hit up-
on the following plan, which succeeded very well. He went to an
honest old Dutchman, by the name of Stowel, and told him that he
had discovered on the bank of Black River, in the villa^ of Water-
town, Jefferson County, N. Y., a cave, in which he had found a bar
of gold, as big as his leg, and about three or four feet long. That he
comd not get it out alone, on account of its being fast at one end ;
and if he would move him to Manchester, N. Y., they would go to-
gether, and take a chisel and mallet, and get it, and Stowel &ould
share the prize with him. Stowel moved him.

" A short time after their arrival at Manchester, Stowel reminded
Joseph of his promise ; but he calmly replied, that he would not go,
because his wife was now among strangers, and would be very lone'
some if he went away. Mr. Stowel was then obliged to return with-
out any gold, and with less money than he came.

" In the fore part of September, (I believe,) 1827, the Prophet re-
quested me to make him a chest, informing me that he designed to
move back to Pennsylvania, and expecting soon to get his gold book,
he wanted a chest to lock it up, giving me to understand at the same
time, that if I would make the chest he would give me a share in the
book. I told him my business was such that I could not make it ;
but if he would bring the book to me, I would lock it up for him.
He said that would not do, as he was commanded to keep it two
years, without letting it come to the eye of any one but himself.
This commandment, however, he did not keep ; for in less than two
years, twelve men said they had seen it. I told him to get it and
convince me of its existence, and I would make him a chest ; but he*
said, that would not do, as he must have a chest to lock the book in,
as soon as he took it out of the ground. I saw him a few days afler,
when he told me that I must make the chest. I told him plainly
that I could not, upon which he told me that I could have no share
in the book.

70 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS*

^ A few wee&s itiler this conversation he came to my house, and
related the following story : That on the 22d of September, he arose
early in the morning, and took a one horse wa^on, of some one that
had staid over nisnt at their house, without leave or license ; and,
together with his wife, repaired to the hill which contained the book.
He left his wife in the wagon, by the road, and went alone to the
hill, a distance of thirty or forty rods from the road ; he said he then
took the book out of the groimd and hid it in a tree top, and returned
home. He then went to the town of Macedon to work. After about
ten days, it having been suggested that some one had got hip book,
his wile went afler him ; he hired a horse, and went home in the af-
ternoon, staid long enough to drink one cup of tea, and then went
for his book, found it safe, took off his frock, wrapt it round it, put
it under his arm and ran all the way home, a distance of about two
miles. He said he should think it would weigh sixty pounds, and-
was sure it would weigh forty. On his return home, ne said he was
attacked by two men m the woods, and knocked them both down
and made his escape, arrived safe and secured his treasure. He then
observed that if it had not been for that stone, (which he acknowl-
edged belonged to me,) he would not have obtained the book. A
few days aflerwards, he told one of my neighbors that he had not

Sot any such book, nor never had such an one ; but that he had told
le story to deceive the d d fool, (meaning me,) to get him to

make a chest. His neighbors having become disgusted with his
foolish stories, he determined to go back to Pennsylvania, to avoid
what he called persecution. His wits were now put to the task to
contrive how he should get money to bear his expenses. He met
one day in the streets of Palmyra a rich man, whose name was Mar-
tin Harris, and addressed him thus : *■ I have a commandment from
God to ask the first man I meet in the street to give me fifty dollars,
to assist me in doing the work of the Lord by translating the Golden
Bible.' Martin being naturally a credulous man, hands Joseph the
money. In the spring of 18^ Harris went to Pennsylvania, and
on his return to Palmyra, reported that the Prophet's wife, in the
toionth of June following, would be delivered of a male child that
would be able when two years old to translate the Gold Bible.
Then, said he, you will see Joseph Smith, Jr., walking through the
streets of Palmyra with a Gold Bible under his arm, and having a

fold breastplate on, and a gold sword hanging by his side. This,
owever, by the by, provea false.

" In April, 1830, 1 again asked Hiram for the stone which he had
borrowed of me ; he told me I should not have it, for Joseph made
use of it in translating his Bible. I reminded him of his promise,
and that he had pledged his honor to return it ; but he gave me the
lie, saying the stone was not mine nor never was. Harris at the
same time flew in a rage, took me by the collar and said I was a liar,
and he could prove it by twelve witnesses. Afler I had extricated
myself from him, Hiram in a rage shook his fist at me, and abused
me in a most scandalous manner. Thus I might proceed in describ-
ing the character of these High Priests, by relating one transaction
«f&r another, which would aU tend to set them in ue same light in

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHAIUCTEa. 71

which they were regarded by their neighbors, yiz. : as a pest to so-
ciety. I have regarded Joseph Smith, Jr., from the time I first be-
came acquainted v/ith him until he left this part of the country, as a
man whose word could not be depended upon. Hiram's character
was but very little better. What I have said respecting the charac-
ters of these men, will apply to the whole iamily. what I have
stated relative to the characters of these individuals, thus far, is
wholly true. After they became thorough Mormons, their conduct
was more disgraceful than before. They did not hesitate to abuse
any man, no matter how fair his character, provided he did not em-
brace their creed. Their tongues were continually employed in
spreading scandal and abuse. Although they left tliis part of the
country without paying their just debts, yet their creditors were glad
to have them do so, rather than to have them stay, disturbing the
neighborhood. i. w,^j,^^„ Chasb.

" On the 11th December, 1833, the said Willard Chase appeared
bef(»:e me, and made oath that the foregoing statement to wnich he
has subscribed his name, is true, according to his best recollection
and belief. Freo'k Smith,

^^ Justice cfihe Peace of Wayne County.*'

« The Testimony of Parley Chase,

*' ATanchester, DecenAer S, 1833.

'* 1 was acquainted with the family of Joseph Smith, Sen., both
before and since they became Mormons, and feel free to state that
not one of the male members of the Smith family was entitled to
any credit whatsoever. They were lazy, intemperate, and worth-
less men, very much addicted to lying. In this they frequently
boasted of their skill. Digging for money was their principal em-
ployment. In regard to their Sold Bible speculation, they scarcely
ever told two stories alike. The Mormon Bible is said to be a reve-
lation from God, through Joseph Smith, Jr., his Prophet, and this
same Joseph Smith, Jr., to my knowledge, bore the reputation among
his neighbors of being a liar. The foregoing statement can be cor-
roborated by all his former neighbors. Parley Chase."

" Palmyra, December 13, 1833.

" I certify that I have been personally acquainted with Peter In-
gersoll for a number of years, and believe him to be a man of strict
integrity, truth and veracity. Durfey Chase."

" Falmtra, Decen^er % 1833.

'^ 1 am acquainted with William Stafford and Peter Ingersoll, and
believe them to be men of trutii and veracity. J. S. Colt."

72 HISTOBY OF THE SAIBTS.

^Palmtra, De^mber 4, 1833.

" We, the undersigned, are personally acquainted with William
Stafford, Willard Chase and Peter Ingersoll, and believe them to be
men of truth and veracity '^George Beckwith,

" Nath'l H. Beckwith,
^^ Thomas Rogers, 2d,
"Martin W. Wilcox.'*

« The Testimoni/ of David Stafford.

" Manchbstek, December 5, 1R33.

" I have been acquainted with the family of Joseph Smith, Sen.,
for several years, and I know him to be a drunkard and a liar, and
to be much in the habit of gambling. He and his bovs were truly
a lazy set of fellows, and more particularly Joseph, who very aptly
followed his father's example, and in some respects was worse.
When intoxicated he was very quarrelsome. Previous to his goinff
to Pennsylvania to get married, we worked together making a coal^
pit. While at work at one time, a dispute arose between us, (he
having drinked a little too freely,) and some hard words passed be-
tween us, and as usual with him at such times, was for fighting.
He got the advantage of me in the scuffle, and a gentleman by the
name of Ford interfered, when Joseph turned to fighting bim. We
both entered a complaint against him and he was fined for the breach
of the peace. It is well known, that the general employment of the
Smith family was money-digging and fortune-telling. They kept
around them, constantly, a sang of worthless fellows who dug for
mone^ nights, and were idle in the daytime. It was a mystery
to their neighbors how they got their living. I will mention some
circumstances and the public may judge for themselves. At dif-
ferent times I have seen them come from the woods early in the
morning, bringing meat which looked like mutton. I went into the
woods one morning very early, shooting partridges, and found Joseph
Smith, Sen., in company with two other men, with hoes, shovels,
and meat that looked like mutton. On seeing me they run like
wild men to get out of sight. Seeing the old man a few days afler-
wards, I asked him why he run so the other day in the woods ; * Ah,*
said he, * you know that circumstances alter cases ; it will not do to
be seen at all times.'

*' I can also state, that Oliver Cowdery proved himself to be a
worthless person, and not to be trusted or believed when be taught
school in this neighborhood. Afler his going into the ministry,
while offlciating in performing the ordinance of baptism in a brook,
William Smitli, (brother of Joseph Smith,) seeing a young man
writing down what was said, on a piece of board, was quite offended
and attempted to take it from him, kicked at bim, and clinched for
a scuffle. Such was the conduct of these pretended Disciples of
the Lord. David Stafford.

"On the 12th day of December, >833, the said David Stafford
appeared before me, and made oath that the foregoing statement^
by him subscribed, is true. Fred'k Smith,

" Justice oftkt Peace qf Wayne County^ JVeto York.'"

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTER. 78

u j%^ TaHmony o/Barhn Stafford.

" Manchbitxr, Ontario County, New York, AovemAer 3, 1833

*^ Beixiff called upon to ffive a statement of the character of the
family ot Joseph Smith, Sen., as far as I know, I can state that I
became acquainted with them in 1820, and knew them until 1831,
when thej left this neighborhood. Joseph Smith, Sen., was a
noted drunkard and most of the family followed his example, and
Joseph, Jr., especially, who was very much addicted to intem-
perance. In short, not one of the family had the least claims to
respectability. Even since he professed to be inspired of the Lord
to translate the Book of Mormon, he one day, while at work in my
father's field, got quite drunk on a composition of cider, molasses
and water. Finding his legs to refuse their office, he leaned upon
tiie fence and hung for some time ; at length recovering again, he
felLto scuffling with one of the workmen, who tore his shirt nearly
off from him. His wife, who was at our house on a visit, appeared
very much grieved at his conduct, and to protect his back from the
rays of the sun, and conceal his nakedness, threw her shawl over
his shoulders, and in that plight escorted the Prophet home. As an
evidence of his piety and devotion, when intoxicated, he frequently
made his religion the topic of conversation ! !

" Barton Stafford.

" Statb or Nvw York, \ ^^

Wayne County,

"I certify that on the 9th day of December, 1833, personally
appeared before me, the above-named Barton Stafford, to me known,
and solemnly affirmed according to law, to the truth of the above
statement and subscribed the same.

"Thos. p. Baldwin,
^ Judge of Wayne County Court.'

^ I, Henry Harris, do state that I became acquainted with the
family of Joseph Smith, Sen., about the year 1820, in the town of
Manchester, New York. They were a family that labored very
little — the chief they did, was to dig for money. Joseph Smith,
Jr., the pretended Prophet, used to pretend to tell fortunes ; he
had a stone which he used to put in his hat, by means of which he
professed to tell people's fortunes.

" Joseph Smith, Jr., Martin Harris, and others, used to meet
together in private, a while before the gold plates were found, and
were familiarly known by the name of the * Gold Bible Ck>mpany.'
They were regarded by the community in which thev lived, as a
lying and indolent set of men, and no confidence could be placed
in them.

" The character of Joseph Smith, Jr., for truth and veracity
was such, that I would not believe him under oath. I was once on
a jury before a Justice's Court, and the jury could not, and did not,
believe his testimony to be true. Afler he pretended to have found
the gold plates, I bad a conversation with him, and asked him
where he found them and how he come to know where they were.

7

74 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

He said he had a revelation from God that told him thej were hid
in a certain hill, and he looked in his stone and saw them in the
place of deposit ; that an angel appeared, and told him he could not
get the plates until he was married, and that when he saw the
woman tnat was to he his wife, he should know her, and she would
know him. He then went to Pennsylvania, sot his wife, and they
both went together and got the gold plates — he said it was revealed
to him, that no one must see the plates but himself and wife.

** I then asked him what letters were engraved on them, he said
italic letters written in an unknown language, and that he had
copied some of the words and sent them to Du Mitchell and Professor
Anthon of New York. By looking on the plates he said he could
not understand the words, but it was made known to him that he
was the person that must translate them, and on looking through
the stone was enabled to translate.

'^ Afler the book was published, I frequently bantered him for a
copy. He asked fourteen shillings a piece for them ; I told him I
would not give so much ; he told me he had had a revelation that
they must be sold at that price.

** Some time afterwards I talked with Martin Harris about buying
one of the books, and he told me they had had a new revelation,
that they might be sold at ten shillings a piece.

" HfiNRT Harris."

** State of Ohio, i
Cuyahoga County, \

'' Personally appeared before me, Henry Harris, and made oath ia
due form of law, that the foregoing statements subscribed by him
are true. *' Jonathan Lapham,

" Justice of the Peace. ' *

" Palmtka, Wayne County, New York, Utk mo. S8t&, 1833.

*^ In the early part of the winter in 1828, 1 made a visit to Martin
Harris's, and was joined in company by Jos. Smith, Sen., and his
wife. The Gold 6ib1e business, so called, was the topic of con-
versation, to which I paid particular attention, that I might learn
the truth of the whole matter. They told me that the report that
Joseph, Jr., had found golden plates, was true, and that he was
in Harmony, Pennsylvania, translating them — that such plates were
in existence, and uiat Joseph, Jr., was to obtain them, was re-
vealed to him by the spirit of one of the Saints that was on this
continent, previous to its being discovered by Columbus. Old Mrs.
Smith observed that she thouffht he must be a Quaker, as he was
dressed very plain. Th^ said that the plates he then had in pos-
session were bvA an introduction to the Gold Bible — that all of
them upon which the Bible was written, were so heavy, that it
would take four stout men to load them into a cart — that Joseph
had also discovered by looking through his stone, the vessel in
which the gold was melted from which the plates were made, and
also the machine with which they were rolled ; he also discovered
in the bottom of the vessel three oalls of gold, each as large as his

JOE SMITH HIS CLAiaiS AND CHARACTER. 75

fist. The old lady said also, that afler the book was translated,
the plates were to be publicly exhibited — admittance twenty-five
cents. She calculated it would bring in annually an enormous
sum of money — that money would Uien be very plenty, and the
book would also sell for a great price, as it was something entirely
new — that ^hey had been commanded to obtain all the money they
could borrow for present necessity, and to repay with gold. The
remainder was to be kept in store for the benent of their family and
children. This and the like conversation detained me until about
eleven o'clock. Early the next morning, the mystery of the spirit
being like myself (one of the order called Friends) was revealed by
the ibllowin^ circumstance : The old lady took me into another
room, and after closing the door, she said, * Have you four or five
dollars in money that you can lend until our business is brought to a
close ? the spirit has said you shall receive fourfold.' I told her
that when I gave, I did it not expecting to receive again — as for
money I had hone to lend. I then asked her what her particular
want of money was; to which she replied, 'Joseph wants to take
the stage and come home from Pennsylvania to see what we are all
about.' To which I replied, he might look in his stone and save his
fame and money. The old lady seemed confused, and left the room,
and thus ended the visit.

" In the second month following, Martin Harris and his wife were
at my house. In conversation about Mormonites, she observed, that
she wished her husband would quit them, as she believed it was all
false and a delusion. To which I heard Mr. Harris reply : ' IVhiU
^ it is a lie; if you will let rue alone I loill make money out of it!*
1 was both an eye and an ear witness of what has been stated above,
which is now fresh in my memory, and I ^ive it to the world for the
good of mankind. I speak the truth and lie not, God bearing me
witness. Abigail Harris."

*( Palmtra, JTovember S9, 1833.
'' Being called upon to give a statement to the world of what I
know respecting the Gold Bible speculation, and also of the conduct
of Martin Harris, my husband, who is a leading character among
the Mormons, I do it free from prejudice, realizing that I must give
an account at the bar of God for what I say. Martin Harris was
once industrious, attentive to his domestic concerns, and thought to
be worth about ten thousand dollars. . He is naturally quick in his
temper, and in his mad-fits frequently abuses all who may dare to
oppose him in his wishes. . However strange it may seem, I have
been a srcat sufferer by his unreasonable conduct. At dififerent
times while I lived with him, he has whipped, kicked, and turned
me out of the house. About a year previous to the report being
raised that Smith had found gold plates, he became very intimati
with the Smith family, and said he believed Joseph could see
in his stone any thing he wished. After this he apparently became
very sanguine in his belief, and frequently said he would have do
one in his house that did not believe in Mormonism ;. and because
I would not give credit to the report he made about the gold plates,

76 HISTORY or THE SAINTS.

be became more |ustere towards me. In one of his fits of rage he
struck me with the butt-end of a whip, which I think had been used
for driving oxen, and was about the size of my thumb, and three or
four feet long. He beat me on the head four or five times, and the
next day turned me out of doors twice, and beat me in a shameful
manner. The next day I went to the town of Marion, and while
there my flesh was black and blue in many places. His main com
plaint against me was, that I was always trying to hinder his mak-
ing money.

^^ When he found out that I was soing to Mr. Putnam's, ia
Marion, he said he was going too, that they had sent for him to pay
them a visit. On arrivmg at Mr. Putnam's, I asked them if they
had sent for Mr. Harris ; they replied, they knew nothing about it ',
he, however, came in the evening. Mrs. Putnam told him never to
strike or abuse me any more ; he then denied ever striking me ; she
was however convinced that he lied, as the marks of his beating
me were plain to be seen, and remained more than two weeks.
Whether tne Mormon religion be true or false, I leave the world to
judge, for its effects upon Martin Harris have been to make him
more cross, turbulent and abusive to me. His whole object was to
make money by it. I will give one circumstance in proof of it.
One day, wnile at Peter Harris's house, I told him he had better
leave the company of the Smiths, as their religion was false ; to
which he replied, ' If you would let me alone, I could make money
by it.'

" It is in vain for the Moimons to deny these facts ; for they are
all well known to most of his former neighbors. The man has now
become rather an object of pity ; he has spent most of his property,
and lost the confidence of his former friends. If he had labored as
hard on his farm as he has to ma|iLe Mormons, he might now be one
of the wealthiest farmers in the country. He now spends his time
in travelling through the country spreading the delusion of Mor-
monism, and has no regard whatever for his family.

" With regard to Mr. Harris's being intimate with Mrs. Haggard,
as has been reported, it is but justice to myself to state what facts
have come within my own observation, to show whether I had any
grounds for Jealousy or not. Mr. Harris was very intimate witL
tnis family, &r some time previous to their going to Ohio. They
lived a while in a house which he had built for their accommoda-
tion, and here he spent the most of his leisure hours ; and made her
presents of articles from the store and house. He carried these
presents in a private manner, and frequently when he went there,
he would pretend to be going to some of the neighbors, on an
errand, or to be going into the fields. After getting out of sight of
the house, he would steer a straight course for Haggard's house,
especially if Haggard was from home. At times when Haggard
was from home, ne would go there in the manner above described,
and stay till twelve or one o'clock at night, and sometimes until
daylight.

*^ n* his intentions were evil, the Lord will judge him accord-
ingly, but if good, he did not mean to let his leu hand know what

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTER. 77

his right hand did. The aboye statement of facts, I affirm to be
trae. Lucy Harris."

" MAircHKSTKB, Ontario Coanty, December 1, 1833.

'^ I, Roswell Nichols, first became acquainted with the fairiilj of
Joseph Smith, ^en., nearly five years ago, and I lived a neighbor to
the said family about two years. M^ acquaintance with the family has
enabled me to know something of its character for good citizenship,
probity and veracity — For breach of contracts, for the non-payment
of debts and borrowed money, and for duplicity with their neignbors,
the family was notorious. Once, since the Uold Bible speculation
commenced, the old man was sued ; and while the sherifiT was at hip
house, he lied to him and was detected in the falsehood. Before he
left the house, he confessed that it was sometimes necessary for him
to tell an honest lie, in order to Uve. At another time, he told me
that he had received an express command for me to repent and be-
lieve as he did, or I must be damned. I refused to conmly, and at
the same time told him of the various impositions of his family. He
then stated their di^ginff was not for money, but it was for the
obtaining of a Gold Bible. Thus contradictm^ what he had told
me before : for he had often said, that the hills m our neighborhood
were nearly all erected by human hands — that they were all full
of ffold ahd silver. And one time, when we were talking on the
subject, he pointed to a small hill on my farm, and said, ' In that
hill there is a stone which is full of gold and silver. I know it to
be so, for I have been to the hole, and God said unto me, Go not in
nowy but at a future day you shall go in and find the book open, and
then you shall have the treasures.* He said that gold and silver was
once as plenty as the stones in the field are now — that the ancients,
half of them melted the ore and made the gold and silver, while the
other half buried tt deeper in the ejarth, which accounted for these
hills. Upon my inquiring who furnished the food for tbe whole, he
flew into a pasrsion, and called me a sinner, and said he, *■ You must
be eternally damned."

'^ I mention these facts, not because of their intrinsic importance,
but simply to show the weak-mindedness and low character of the
man. Roswell Nichols."

" Mancheitxr, Ontario Coanty, November 15, 1833.

*' I, Joshua Stafford, became acquainted, with the family of Joseph
Smith, Sen., about the year 1819 or '20. They then were laboring
people, in low circumstances. A short time afler this, they com-
menced digging for hidden treasures, and soon after they became
indolent, and tmd marvellous stories about ghosts, hobgoblins, cav-
erns, and various other mysterious matters. Joseph once showed
me a piece of wood which he said he took from a box of money, and
the reason he gave for not obtaining the box, was, that it moved.
At another time, he, (Joseph, Jr.,) at a husking, called on me to
become security for a horse, and said he would reward me hand-
somely, for he had found a box of watches, and they were as large

18 HISTORY or tKe saints.

I

as his fist) ajid he put one of them to his ear, and he could hear it
* tick forty rods.' Since he could not dispose of them profitably at
Canandaigua or Palmyra, he wished to go east with tliem. He
said if he did not return with the horse, I mi^ht take his life. I
replied, that he knew I would not do that. *• Well, said he, ' I did not
suppose you would, yet I would be willing that you should.' He
was nearly intoxicated at the time of the above conversation.

Joshua Stafford."

" Manchester, Ontario County, ^ovejnber 8, 1833.

*''' I, Joseph Capron, became acquainted with Joseph Smith, Sen.,
in the year of our Lord, 18J27. They have, since then, be^n really
a peculiar people — fond of the foolish and the marvellous — at one
time addicted to vice and the grossest immoralities — at another
time making the highest pretensions to piety and holv intercourse
with Almighty God. The family of Smiths held Josepn, Jr., in high
estimation on account of some supernatural power, which he was
supposed to possess. This power he pretended to have received
through the medium of a stone of peculiar quality. The stone was
placed in a hat, in such a manner as to exclude ail light, except that
which emanated from the stone itself. This light of the stone, he
pretended, enabled him to see any thing he wished. Accordingly
ne discovered ghosts, infernal spirits, mountains of gold and silver,
and many other invaluable treasures deposited in the earth. He
would ouen tell his neighbors of his wonderful discoveries, and urge
them to embark in the money-digging business. Luxury and wealth
were to be given to all who woiSd adhere to his counsel. A gang
was soon assembled. Some of them were influenced by curiosity,
others were sanguine in their expectations of immediate gain. I
will mention one circumstance, by which the uninitiated may know
how the company dug for treasures. The sapient Joseph discov-
ered, north-west of my house, a chest of gold watches; but, as they
were in tlie possession of the evil spirit, it required skill and strata-
gem to obtam them. Accordingly, orders were given to stick a
parcel of large stakes in the ground, several rods around, in a cir-
cular form. This was to be done directly over the spot where the
treasures were deposited. A messenger was then sent to Palmyra
to procure a polished sword : after which, Samuel F. Lawrence, with
a drawn sword in his hand, marched around to guard any assault
which his Satanic majesty might be disposed to make. JV^antime,
the rest of the company were busily employed in digging for the
watches. They worked as usual till quite exhausted. But, in spite
of their brave defender, Lawrence, and their bulwark of stakes, the
devil came ofi^ victorious, and carried away the watches. I mi^ht
mention numerous schemes which this young visionary and mi-
postor had recourse to for the purpose of obtaining a. livelihood.
He, and indeed the whole of the family of Smiths, were notorious
for indolence, foolery and falsehood. Their great object appeared
to be, to live without work. While they were digging for money,
they were daily harassed by the demands of creditors, which they
never were able to pay. At length, Joseph pretended to find the

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTER. 19

gold plates. This scheme, he believed, would relieve the family
from all pecuniary embarrassment. His father told me, that when
the book was published, they would be enabled, from the profits of
the work, to carry into successful operation the money-digging busi-
ness. He gave me no intimation, at that time, that the book waa to
be of a religious character, or that it had any thing to do with reve-
lation. He declared it to be a speculation, and said he, * When it is
completed, my &inily will be placed on a level above the generality
of mankind ! ! ' Joseph Capron."

" PxLUTKA, JVovember 28, 1833.

'* Having been called on to state a few facts which are material to
the characters of some of the leaders of the Mormon sect, I will do
so in a concise and jplain manner. I have been acquainted with
Martin Harris, about tnirty years. As a farmer, he was industrious
and enterprising, so mucn so, that he had (previous to hia going
into the Gold Bible speculation) accumulated, in real estate, some
eight or ten thousand dollars. Although he possessed wealth, his
moral and religious character was such, as not to entitle him to
respect among his neighbors. He was fretful, peevish and quarrel-
some, not only in the neighborhood, but in his family. He was
known to freqiientljp^ abuse his wife, by whipping her, kicking her
out of bed, and turning her out of doors, &c. Yet he was a public
professor of some religion. He was first an orthodox Quaker, then
a Universalist, next a Restorationer, then a Baptist, next a Pres-
byterian, and then a Mormon. By his willingness to become all
things unto all men, he has attained a high standing among his
Mormon brethren. The Smith family never made any pretensions
to respectability. G. W. Stobard.

" I hereby concur in the above statement. Richard H. Ford."

" Palmyra, December 4, 1833.

" We, the undersigned, have been acquainted with the Smith fami-
ly, for a number of years, while they resided near this place, and
we have no hesitation in saying, that we consider them destitute of
that moral character, which ought to entitle them to the confidence
of any community. They were particularly famous for visionary
projects, spent much of their time in digging for money which they
pretended was hid in the earth ; and to this day, large excavations
may be seen in the earth, not far from their residence, where they
used to spend their time in digging for hidden treasures. Joseph
Smith, Senior, and his son Joseph, were in particular considered
entirely destitute of moral cJiaracter, and addicted to vicious habits.

*' Martin Harris was a man who had acquired a handsome proper-
ty, and in matters of business his word was considered good ; but on
moral and religious subjects, he was perfectly visionary, — some-
times advocating one sentiment, and sometimes another. And in
reference to all with whom we were acquainted, that have embraced
Mormonism from this neighborhood, we are compelled to say, were
very visionary, and most of them destitute of moral character, and

80

HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

without influence in this community -, and this may account why
they were permitted to go on with their impositions undisturbed.
It was not supposed that any of them were possessed of sufEcient
character or mfluence to make any one believe their book or their
sentiments, and we know not of a single individual in this vicinity
that puts the least confidence in their pretended revelations.

" Geo; N. Williams, Wells Anderson,

** Clark Robinson,
(t Lemuel Durfee,

" E. S. TOWNSEND,

" Henry P. Alger,
" C. E. Thayer,
" G. W. Anderson,
" H. P. Thayer,
" L. Williams,
" Geo. W. Crosby,
" Levi Thayer,
" R. S. Williams,
" P. Sexton,

" M. BUTTERFIELD,

" S. P. Seymodr, •
" D. S. Jackways,
" John Hurlbut,

" H. LiNNELL,

" Jas. Jenner,

" S. ACKLEY,
*' JOSIAH RiCE,

" Jesse Townsend,
'* Rich'd. D. Clark,
" Th. p. Baldwin,
" John Sothington,
" DuRFEY Chase,

N. H. Beckwith,
Philo Durfee,
Giles S. Ely,
R. W. Smith,
Pelatiah West,
Henry Jessup,
Linus North,
Thos. Rogers, 2d.
Wm. Parke,
JosiAH Francis,
Amos Hollister,
G. A. Hathaway,
David G. Ely,
H. K. Jerome,
G. Beckwith,
Lewis Foster,
Hiram Payne,
P. Grand IN,

L. HURD,
Joel Thayer,
E. D. Robinson,
AsA^EL Millard,
A. Ensworth,
Israel F. Chilson."

" MAifCHSSTSR, Jfowmber 3y 1833.

" We, the undersigned, beinff personally acquainted with the fam-
ily of Joseph Smith, Sen., with whom the celebrated Gold Bible, so
called, originated, state : that they were not only a lazy, indolent
set of men, but also intemperate ; and their word was not to be de-
pended upon; and that we are truly glad to dispense with their
society. " Pardon Butts, A. H. Went worth,

" Warden A. Reed, Moses C^ Smith,

^' Hiram Smith,

" Alfred Stafford,

*' James Gee,

" Abel Chase,

Joseph Fish,
Horace N. Barnes,
Silvester Worden."

<« Hakmort, Pa., March 20, 1834.

^ I first became acquainted with Joseph Smith, Jr., in November,
1825. He was at that time in the employ of a set of men who were

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTEB. 81

cailed 'money-diggers;* and his occupation was that of seeing, or
pretending to see by means of a stone placed in his hat, and his hat
closed over his face. In this way he pretended to discover minerals »
and hidden treasure. His appearance at this time, was that of a
careless young man — not very well educated, and very saucy and
insolent to his father. Smith, and his father, with several other
' money-diggers,' boarded at my house while they were employed in
digging for a mine that they supposed had been opened and worked
by the Spaniards, many years since. Young Smith gave the *• money-
diggers ' great encouragement, at first, but when they had arrived in
digging, to near the place where he had stated an inmiense treasure
would be found — he said the enchantment was so powerful that he
could not see. They then became discoursed, and soon after dis-
persed. This took place about the 17th ot November, 1825; and
one of the company gave me his note for $12 68 for his board, which
is still unpaid.

*' After these occurrences, young Smith made several visits at my
house, and at length asked my consent to his marrying my daughter
Emma. This I refused, and gave my reasons for so doing ; some of
which were, that he was a stranger, and followed a business that I
could not approve ; he then left the place. Not long aft;er this, he
returned, and while 1 was absent from home, carried oif my daugh-
ter, into the state of New York, where they were married without
my approbation or consent. After they nad arrived at Palmyra,
N. Y., Emma wrote to me iijiquiring whether she could take her
property, consisting of clothing, furniture, cows, &c. I replied that
her property was safe, and at her disposal. In a short time they
returned, bringing with them a Peter Ingersoll, and subsequently
came to the conclusion that they would move out, and reside upon a
place near my residence.

** Smith stated to me, that he had given up what he called * glass-
looking,' and that he expected to work hard for a living, and was
willing to do so. He also made arrangements with my son Alva
Hale, to go to Palmyra, and move his (Smith's) furniture, &c., to
this place.' He then returned to Palmyra, and soon aft^r, Alva,
agreeable to the arrangement, went up and returned with Smith
and his family. Soon after this, I was informed they had brought a
wonderful Book of Plates down with them. I was shown a box in
which it is said they were contained, which had, to all appearances,
been used as a fflass box of the common window glass. I was
allowed to feel the weiffht of the box, and they gave me to under-
stand, that the Book of Plates was then in the box — into which,
however, I was not allowed to look.

' " I inquired of Joseph Smith, Jr., who was to be the first who
would be allowed to see the Book of Plates ? He said it was a
young child. Afler this, I became dissatisfied, and informed him
that if there was any thing in my house of that description, which I
could not be allowed to see, he must take it away ; if he did not, I
was determined to see it. After that, the plates were said to be hid
in the woods.

**• About this titaie, Martin Harris made his appearance upon the

1

82 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

stage ; and Smith began to interpret the characters or hieroglyphics
which he said were engraven upon the plates, while Harris wrote
down the interpretation. It wa^ said, that Harris wrote down one
hundred and sixteen pages, and lost them. Soon after this hap-
pened, Martin Harris imbrmed me that he must have a greater
witness,, and said that he had talked with Joseph about it — Joseph
informed him that he could not, or durst not show him the plates,
but that he (Joseph) would go into the woods where the Book of
Plates was, and that after he came back, Harris should follow his
track in the snow, and find the Book, and examine it for himself.
Harris informed me afterwards, that he followed Smith's directions,
and could not find the plates, and was still dissatisfied.

" The next day after this happened, I went to the house, where
Joseph Smith, Jr., lived, and where he and Harris were engaged in
their translation of the book. Each of them had a written piece of
paper which they were comparing, and some of the words were *my
seroarU seeketh a greater tmtnesSj but no greater witness can be given
him.^ There was also something said about * three that were to see
the thing ' — meaning, I suj>posed, the Book of Plates, and that ^ if the
three did not go exactly according to the orders, the thing would be
taken from them,^ I inquired whose words they were, and was
informed by Joseph or £mma, (I rather think it was the former,) that
they were the words of Jesus Christ. I told them, that I considered
the whole of it a delusion, and advised them to abandon it. The
manner in which he pretended to read and interpret, was the same
as when he looked for the money-diggers, with the stone in his hat,
and his hat over his face, while the Book of Plates was at the same
time hid in the woods !

" After this, Martin Harris went away, and Oliver Cowdery came
and wrote for Smith, while he interpreted as above described. This
is the same Oliver Cowdery, whose name may be found in the Book
of Mormon. Cowdery continued a scribe for Smith until the Book
of Mormon was completed, as I supposed and understood.

** Joseph Smith, Jr., resided near me for some time after this, and
I had a good opportunity of becoming acquainted with him, and
somewhat acquamted with his associates, and I conscientiously
believe from Uie facts I have detailed, and from many other cir-
cumstances, which I do not deem it necessary to relate, that the
whole * Book of Mormon ' (so called) is a silly fobrication of false-
hood and wickedness, got up for speculation, and with a design to
dupe the credulous and unwary — and in order that its fabricators
may live upon the spoils of those who swallow the deception.

" Isaac Hale.

^* Affirmed to and subscribed before me, March 20, 1834.

*^ Charles Dimon,
_ " J. Peace."

" Stats of P£ifif»rLVAi«iA, Susquekannah Coicnty, n,

** We, the subscribers, associate Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas, in and for said county, do cextify that we have been many

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTER. 83

years personally acquainted with Isaac Hale, of Hannony township
in this county, who has attested the foregoing statement ; and that
he is a man of excellent moral character, and of undoubted veracity.
Witness our hands. " William Thompson.

" Datis Dimock.
"JMorcAai, 1834."

** Elder Lewis also certifies and affirms in relation to Smith as
follows : —

*' ' I have been acquainted with Joseph Smith, Jr., for some time :
being a relation of his wife, and residing near him, I have had fre-
quent opportunities of conversation with him, and of knowing his
opinions and pursuits. From my standing in the Metliodist Episco-
pal church, I suppose he was careful how he conducted or ex-
Eressed himself betore me. At one time, however, he came to my
ouse, and asked my advice, whether he should proceed to translate
the Book of Plates (referred to by Mr. Hale) or not. He said that
God had commanded him to translate it, but he was afraid of the
people • he remarked, that he was to exhibit the plates to the world,
at a certain time^ which was then about eighteen months distant.
I told him I was not qualified to- jrive advice in such cases. Smith
frequently said to me that 1 should see the plates at tlie time
appointed.

•* • After the time stipulated had passed away. Smith being at my
house was asked why he did not fulfil his promise, show the Golden
Plates and prove himself an honest man ? He replied that he him-
self was deceived, but that 1 should see them if 1 were where they
were. I reminded him then, that 1 stated at the time he made the
promise, I was fearful " the enchantment would be so powerful " as
to remove the plates, when the time came in which (hey were to be
revealed.

" ' These circumstances, and many others of a similar tenor, im-
bolden me to say that Joseph Smith, Jr., is not a man of truth and
veracity ; and that his general character in this part of the country,
is that of an impostor, hypocrite and liar.

' Nathaniel C. Lewis.'

*' Affirmed and subscribed, before me, March 20, 1834.

"• Charles Dimon,
"J. Peace.**

^* We subjoin the substance of several affidavits, all taken and
made before Charles Dimon, Esq. by credible individuals, who have
resided near to, and been well acquainted with Joseph Smith, Jr. —
illustrative of his character and conduct.

*■'' Joshua McKune states, that he * was acquainted with Joseph
Smi^, Jr., &nd Martin Harris, during their residence in Harmony,

84 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

Pa., and knew them to be artful seducers;' — that they informed
him that '• Smith had found a sword, breastplate, and a pair of spec-
tacles, at the time he found the gold plates * — that these were to be
* shown to all the world as evidence of the truth of what was con-
tained in those plates,' and that * he (McKune) and others should
see them at a specified time.' He also states, that ' the time for the
exhibition of the plates, ^c, has gome by, and he has not seen them.*
' Joseph Smith, Jr., told him that his (Smith's) first-bom child was to
translate the characters, and hieroglyphics upon the plates, into our
language at tlie age of three years ; but this child was not permitted
to live, to verify the prediction.' He also states that, ' he has been
intimately acquainted with Isaac Hale twenty-four years, and has
always found him to be a man of truth, and good morals.'

" Hezekiali McKune states that, ' in conversation with Joseph
Smith, Jr., he (Smith) said he was nearly equal to Jesus Christ ;
that he was a prophet sent by God to bring in the Jews, and that he
was the greatest prophet that had ever arisen.'

*^ Alva Hale, son of Isaac Hale, states, that Joseph Smith, Jr.,
told him, that ' his (Smith's gifl in seeing with a stone and hat, was
a giil from God,' — but also states, * that Smith told him at another

time tliat this ^'' peeping^' was all d d nonsense. He (Smith) was

deceived Jiimself, but did not intend to deceive others j — that he in-
tended to quit the business, (of peeping,) and labor for his livelihood.'
That afterwards, ' Smith told him, he should see the plates from
which he translated the Book of Mormon,' and accordingly at the
time specified by Smith, he (Hale) 'called to see the plates, but
Smith did not show them, but appeared angry.' He further states,
that he knows Joseph Smith, Jr. to be an impostor, and a liar, and
knows Martin Harris to be a liar likewise.

'' Levi Licwis states that, he has ' been acquainted with Joseph
Smith, Jr., and Martin Harris, and that he has heard them both say,
adultery was no crime. Harris said he did not blame Smith, for his
(Smith's) attempt to seduce Eliza Winters,' &c. ; — Mr. Lewis says
that, he * knows Smith to be a liar ; — that he saw him (Smith)
intoxicated at three different times while he was composing the
Book of Mormon, and also that he has heard Smith, when driving
oxen, use lanmiage of the greatest profanity. Mr. Lewis also tes-
tifies that he neard Smith say, he (Smith) was as good as Jesus
Christ ', — that it was as bad to injure him as it was to injure Jesus
Christ.' * With regard to the plates. Smith said God had deceived
him — which was the reason he (Smith) did not show them.'

" Sophia Lewis certifies that, she ' heard a conversation between
Joseph Smith, Jr., and the Rev. James B. Roach, in which Smith
called Mr. R. a d d fool. Smith also said, in the same conver-
sation, that, he (Smith) was as good as Jesus Christ; ' and that she
' has frequently heard Smith use profane language.' She states that
she heard Smith say, ' the Book of Plates could not be opened under
penalty of death by any other person but his (Smith's) first-born,
which was to be a male.' She says she ' was present at the birth of
this child, and that it was still-born, and very much deformed.' "

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTER. 85

Testimony of Fanny Brewer, of Boston.

" Boston, Septenti«r 13, 1843.

** To THE Public : — I have long desired that some one who had
9L certain knowledge of the hidden practices and abominations atNaa-
voo, would have the moral courage to come out with a full devel-
opment ; and my desires have b^en realized in General Bennett's
disclosures. As the ice is now broken, I, too, have a tale to tell.
In. the spring of 1837, 1 left Boston for Kirtland, in all good faith,
to assemble with the ' Saints, as I thought, and worship God more
perfectly. On my arrival , I found brother going to law with brother,
drunkenness prevailing to a great extent, and every species of wick-
edness. Joseph Smithj a Prophet of God, (as he called himself) was
under arrest for employing two of the Elders to kill a man
BY the name of Grandison Newell, belonging to Mentor; but
was acquitted, as the most material witness bid not appear ! ! !
I am person^Iy acquainted with one of the employees, Davis by
name, and he frankly acknowledged to me, that he was prepared to
do tlie deed under the direction of the Prophet, and was only prevented
from so doing by the entreaties 6f his wife. There was much ex-
citement against thft Pr^phftt ^ on another account, likewise, — an

UNLAWFUL INTERrntTRHTe «RTWF.F ,N HTMSKLF ANTt A YOUNG^ORPHAN
GIRL RESIDING IN HIS FAMILY, AND UNDER HIS PROTECTION !! ! "^r.

Martin Harris told me tbat the Propn^t wftfl Hio^t n6l61'16{isTor lying
and LICENTIOUSNESS ! ! In the fall of 1837, the Smith family aB
]^fl Kirtland) by revelation, (or necessity,) for Missouri. The
Prophet left between two days. I carried from this place to Kirt-
land, goods to the amount of about fourteen hundred dollars, as I was
told X could make ready sales to the Saints ; but I was disappoint-
ed. I accordingly sent them to Missouri to be sold by H. Redfieid.
There they were stored in a private room. Smith, the Prophet,
hearing that they were there, took oufc a warrant, under pretence
of searching for stolen goods, and got them into his possession.
They were then, by a sham court, which he held, ^.djudged to him,
and the boxes were opened. As the goods were ta^en out, piece
by piece, Hyrum Smith,* who Mood by, said, in the most positive
manner, that he cotdd swear to every piece, and tell where they had
been bought, although a Mr.;Robbins, who was pi*esent, told them
that he knew the boxn^, and tkiu the goods were mine, for I had charged
him to take care of them. /• Dr. Williams, likewise, told them Uiat
they were my goods, and that Hyrum never saw a piece of
THEM ! * They, however, refused to give them up, but, in defiance
of law and justice, kept thie.m for their own profit. The Prophet
has told many stories abouti this matter, but the above is the true
one. / know that many ojUhe Mormons tdU make any statements
that their Prophet desires them to, and have no hesitation in resorting
to the MOST BAREFACED PEBtfuRY to accomplish their purposes —
save their friends, or destroy .tipeir enemies.
'* I had strong intunations jKthe truth of all the matters disclosed

* [It appenrs frotn thJfTtestlfll^^lnd that of Willard ChaRe and others, that the
beloved Htruh is a prince of liars, scoundrelsj eut-throalSj andrt^ffians, under the
garb of religious sanctity } n^ot to bs bblievkd undxb OAffb.]

6

86 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

by General Bennett, some months before they came to the public
eye, by persons high in the confidence of thdl rrophet, and who had
every opportunity of knowing.

" These are facts not to be contradicted^ and are but a few out of
the many I am acquainted with about the Prophet and his friends.
Nothing could induce me to have my name appear before the public,
but a hope that the united testimony of those who, by the mercy of
God, have been delivered from the snares of the villains, may be the
means of redeeming some of my fellow-beings, and especially my
own sex, from the destruction that would fall upon them if they
continued under the influence of the vile impostor.

** Fahnt Brewer.

"Suffolk, as. September 13, 1842.

" Then personally appeared the above-named Fannv Brewer, and
made oath, that the foregoing affidavit, by her subscribed, is true.

" Before me,

** Bradford Suhnek,

''^Justice of the Pecux.''

"BosTOw, September 19, 1842.

" On or about the middle of June, 1837, 1 rode with Joseph Smith,
Jr., from Fairport, Ohio, to Kirtland. Wheii we left Fairport, we
had been drinking pretty freely ; I drank brandy, he brandy and ci-
der, both together ; and when we arrived at rainsville, we drank
again ; and when we arrived at Kirtland, we were very drunk.

" In July, William Smith, one of the twelve Apostles, arrived at
Kirtland, nrom Chicago, drunk, with his face pretty well bunged up ;
he had black eyes and bunged nose, and told John Johnson that he
had been milking the Gentiles to his satisfaction, for that time.

" About tjie last of August, 1837, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young,
and others, were drunk at Joseph Smith, Jr.'s house, all together ;
and a man, by the name of Vinson Knight, supplied them wiSi rum,
brandy, gin, and port wine, from the cash store ; and I worked in
the loft, over head. He, Joseph, told Knight not to sell any of the
rum, brandy, gin, or port wine, for he wanted it for his own use.
They were drunk, and drinking, for more than a week.

" Joseph Smith said that the Bank was got up on his having a rev-
elation from God, and said it was to go into circulation to milk the
Gentiles. I asked Joseph about the money. He saud he could not
redeem it ; he was paid for signing the bills, as any other man would
be paid for it, — so he told me, — and they must do the best they
could about it.

"October. 13. — Hyrum Smith's wife was sick, and Brigham
Toung prayed with her, and laid on hands, and said she would get
well ; but she died at six o'clock at night.

" Joseph Smith, Jr., and others, went to Canada, in September.
Said he, Joseph, hul as good a right to go out and get money, as
any of the brethren. He took money, in Canada, from a man by Uie
name of Lawrence, and promised him a farm, when he arrived at
Kirtland ; but when he arrived, Joseph was amons the missing, and
no farm for him. (He took nine hundred dollars from Lawrence.)

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTER 87

** William Smith told Joseph if he did not give him some money
he would tell where the Book of Mormon came from ; and Joaepn
accordingly gave him what he wanted. G. B. Frost.

<* Suffolk, n. September 19, 1843.

** Then personally appeared the aforenamed G. B. Frost, and made
oath that the foregoing affidavit, by him subscribed, is true.
** Before me, Bradford Sumner,

" Justice qf the Peace."

From Rev. George Mmtgomery Wut, JL JH, X>. D^ the able

Defender of the Christian FaitL

"BbtTON, September 19, 1843.

'^ The undersigned is personally acquainted with Miss Fanny
Brewer, and has no hesitation in saying that she sustains an unblem-
ished character for truth and moral worth in the city of Boston.

^^ The undersigned is also personsdly acquainted with Mr. Greorse
fi. Frost, of the same city ; and hereby certifies, that he is perfecSy
worthy of belief, and he now is, and has been, for a length of time
past, a perfectly temperjite man, and an accredited member of the
Temperance Society. G. M. West."

CHARACTER OF JOE SMITH, AND TWO OF HIS AC-
COMPLICES—WILLIAM LAW AND JOHN TAYLOR—
FOR TRUTH AND HONESTY.

An article appeared in the (Nauvoo] Times and Sea-
sons, of July 1, 1S42, from the pen ot General William
Law, (one of Joe's Councillors of the First Presidency, se-
lected by special revelation from Heaven, through Joe, as
he boasts, for his great piety and unquestioned veracity !)
dated June 17, 1842, and headed, ''much ado about
NOTHING ! ! " as follows : —

'^ Where is there a record against any of our jfeovle for a peniien^
tiaryCTune? Not in the State!! Where is there a record of
fine, or county imprisonment, (for ant breach of law,) against any
of the Latter Day Saints f I know of none in the State ! If then
uiey have broken no law, they consequently have taken, away no
man's rights, they have infringed upon no man's liberties."

Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and John Taylor, the Apos-
tle, (the senior and junior editors of the Times and Sea-
sons,) endorse the statement in an editorial, as follows : —

" The aboce are plain matters of fact that every one may become

r

88 I BISTORT OF THE SAINTS.

#

acquainted with by reference to the County or State recobds !
We might add that in regard to moral principles there is no city
in the l^ate or in the United States, that can compare with the city
of JVauvoo I ! ! You may live in our city for a month, and not hear
an oath sworn — you may be here as lonf and not see one person
intoxicated ; so notorious are we for sobriety, that at the time the
WcLshin^tonia/n Convention passed through our city, a meeting
was called for them," etc. etc.

What unblushing impudence, and barefaced lying, in
the face of recerded truth ! These are a trio of the most
Heaven-daring liars the world ever saw, as will appear from
the RECORDS Kud facts following : —

"The People of the State of Illinois vs. Timotht Lewis,

(Mormon.)

** Indicted for larceny, October 2, 1840. Sentenced to four years*
imprisonment in the pevutentiary — thirty days' solitary confinement,
— for stealing horses. ' '

"The People of the State of Illinois vs. Sallt Castile
AND Francis Castile, (Mormons.)

" Indicted for stealing a lo^-chain, October 5, 1841. These defend-
ants were convicted by a jury of Hancock county for the above
theft, — new trial granted — tne venue changed to McDonough,
where no witnesses appeared, and they were discharged."

"The People of the State of Illinois vs. Johnson,

(Mormon.)

" Arrested for stealing, and escaped from the officers."

"The People of the State of Illinois vs. Alanson Brown,

(Mormon, Danite.)

" In jail under process from McDonough county fot stealing, and
for murdering a man, by stabbing, in Hancock."

"The People ,of the State of Illinois vs. Gear^

(Mormon.)

" in jail for incest and rape on his own daughter ! ! ! "

"The People of the State of Illinois vs. William Wot>D,

(Mormon.)

" Change of venue from Hancock county to McDonough, and
sentenced to the penitentiary for two years, for stealing horses."

"The People or the State of Illinois vs. Lindsay,

(Mormon.)

" Sent to the penitentiary from Adams county, for stealing a sad-
dle from B. F. Marsh, Esq., in Hancock county."

J

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTER. 89

The above cases icure from the records of Hancock,
McDonough, and Adams counties.

From the City Records.

** Statb or Iixiifois, i „:i;„^»
Hancock County, j ° ^**'®'*

" B^ore me, John C. Bennett, Mayor of the citj of Nauvoo, in
said county, personally came H. Cr. Sherwood, Marshal of said city,
who being duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith : That
on, or about, the twenty-second &.y of April, 1841, in the county of
Hancock, there was stolen from his premises, or near thereto, one
one-horse wagon, in his custody as the property of said city, and this
deponent verily beheved that Eleazer King, Alonzo F. King, and
Enoch M. King, are guilty of the fact charged; and further this de-
ponent saith not. H. G. Sherwood.

*' Sworn to, and subscribed, before me, at my office, this twenty-
third day of April, 1841. John C. Bennett,

^^ Mayor of the City of J^auvoo.**

From the (Burlington) Hawk-^e and Iowa Patriot — a paper
ediUd ly James U. EdumrdSy Esq.

'*Mr. Editor: It is with extreme reluctance that the under-
signed are induced to intrude upon the public what will probably,
by many of your readers, be considered merely as private grievances.
But the indignities and injuries which we have suffered at the hands
of the deluded followers of that wretched Impostor, Joe Smith, have
been so many and frequent, that * forbearance long since ceased to
be a virtue ; ' and a sense of duty to ourselves and others impels us
to make the following statements, which may be the means of pre-
venting some individuals from making shipwreck of their fortunes
and character, by embracing this miserable scheme of humbug and
delusion.

" It may be proper here to remark, that we shall state facts —
facts that can be neither gainsaid or denied ; and, if half the truth
is told, it will convince the world that * truth is stranger than fiction,*
and will act like the spear of Ithuriel, in exposing, in all their deform-
ity, some of the atrocious features of an imposture, as ridiculous
and silly as the designs of its authors are dangerous and treasonable.

"That there are not some worthy men and good citizens who
aincerely believe in the mission of Joe Smith as a Prophet, we
should be sorrv to believe ; but in speaking of a community like this,
we speak of tnem collectively, and of the general features of their
system. *

"They have now been in our midst for more than two years.
They came among us in a destitute and suffering condition ; a condi-
tion that called into livelv exercise all the benevolent feelings of
our natures ; we believed that they had been persecuted on account of
their religious! sentiments, that a majority of them were honest, and

9

f

\

90 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS*

we were disposed to ^ve them an opportnnitj to live down — if
false — the evil reports that have followed them, whenever they
have been compelled to make a removal. In proof that a kindly
disposition has been exercised, we may point to the fact, that until
very recently, not a newspaper in their vicinity has published a
harsh remark in reference to them 'or their Prophet. How has the
kindness thus extended been requited ? they have rung the changes
on their * persecutions in Missouri,' till it no longer possesses the
power to bind together the discordant elements ofMormanism^ and
abuse of the men that have opened their doors to them, and ever
treated them kindly, has become the order of the dav. The events
of the past year have forced the conviction upon us, that, in relation
to their troubles in Missouri, there are * two sides to the story.'

" Three years sinde, we could retire at night without that painfiil
fueling of insecurity which now exists ; then it was unnecessary to
lock our buildings to secure our property from robbers ; now, nothing
is safe, however strongly secured by bolts and bars.

»* The undersigned, havingr been somewhat in the way of the ful-
filment of a pretended revelation relative to the building up a city at
Montrose,^— which, being interpreted into the unknown tongue of
Mormonism, meaneth ^Zarahemla,' — have been the greatest suf-
ferers by these depredations ; no less than thirteen Robberies^
amounting in value to more than One Thousand Dollars, having
been committed on our property since the Mormons came here, and
though we have offered rewards for the detection of the thieves and
the recovery of the property, we have never, in a single instance, suc-
ceeded in accomplishing either. A case in which we made an
attempt to ferret out the thieves, and were thwarted by the direct
interference of Joe Smith, will presently be mentioned.

" We subjoin an account of the various robberies : —

" Robbery 1st. — Store robbed of a general assortment of goods, a
Mormon Bishop (Vinson Knight) at uie time living overhead, with
only a thin floor between.

" Robbery 2nd. — Warehouse broken open, and robbed of one
barrel of pork, two barrels sugar, and five kegs lard.

*' Robbery 3rd. — Smoke-house entered by breaking lock, and
robbed of 33 hams and 11 shoulders.

" Robbery 4th. — 1} barrels salt stolen from the building where it
was stored.

" Robbery 5th. — 1 barrel salt.

*' Robbery 6th. — 1 saddle, bridle, and martingal, stolen from
•table.

** Robbery 7th. — 4 wagon wheels stolen from the wagon standing
in front of uie house.

'* Robbery 8th. — 3 saddles, bridles, and martingals stolen from
stable.

** Robbery 9th. — 60 bushels wheat, in sacks, stolen from granary.

^* Robbery 10th. — Warehouse again entered by breaking lock,
and robbed of 6 boxes glass, 150 pounds bacon, (together with 2
boxes axes belonging to U. Peck, Esq.)

" Robbery 11th. — 6 barrels salt, the salt taken from the harrdSy
and the barrels left.

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS ASD CHARACTEB. 91

«< Robbery 12Ui. <r- 300 io 400 buBheis of com stolen from the erib^
during the past summer, at various times.

'^ I&bbery )3th. — 1 wheel stolen from a chariotee standing in
the enclosure of the undersigned. -<- These are the principal robberies,
to say nothing of petty, every da^ stealing of trifles, wluch is an-
noying enough. The character of the articles stolen precludes the
idea that they were taken to any considerable distance from Mon-
trose, or J^auvoo ! The robbery last mentioned must have been
from sheer malice, as one wheel of a carriage could be of no benefit
to any one.

'' The premises from which our conclusions are drawn, that the
greater part of this mischief is done by Mormons, are, that in every
case of robbery, the silly story is at once raised by them, and circu-
lated with the greatest industry, that we have secreted our own
property for the sake of raising an excitement against the Mormons ;
or the robbery is justified, ana surprise expressed that we don't lose
more than we do, huatise we oppose the swindling schemes of tiieir
Prophet. As before stated, the stand taken by us to prevent the
building ap of Montrose by the ' Latter Days,' had rather thwarted
their plans ', the Prophet himself proclaimed that *• he did not care

how much was stolen from the K s,' thus giving full license to

his followers to go on and plunder as much as they pleased, oflen,
indeed, in his discourses justifying theft, by citing the example of
Christ while passing through the cornfield. On one occasion he said
the world owed him a good living, and if he could not get it withoat,
he would sttfll it — * and eaZch me at it,' said he, < if you can.' This
is the doctrine that is taught — not to be caught stealing — and it
has for months been the common talk amons &e understrappers of
Joe Smith that we should be driven from the place; — the various
robberies of which we have given a history show the rntana by
which such a result is to be brought about.

*^ We come now to a circumstance which goes clearly to show
the hollow-hearted character of the scoundrel Prophet and the other
leading Mormons, and which convinces us that all their pretended
zeal for the detection of villany and the punishment of offenders is
a mere ntse to give persons abroad a favorable opinion of their
morals, and is of a piece with the ^rce exhibited in the enactment
of a law by the City Council of Nauvoo, that no ardent spirits
should be sold within the corporate limits of Nauvoo, under severe
penalties, yet winking at the establishment of a drunkery at the
very portals of the Temple, and in full view of the Mayor's office.
The morning after robbery No. 10, convinced bv traces m the sand
on the bank of the river, that the pioperty stolen had been taken
across the river, — with a view to obtain, if possible, a further clew to
the robbers, one of the undersigned, accompanied by a 'youn? man
from Ohio, we^it to one of the leaders of the society (Stephen Mark-
ham) at Nauvoo, and solicited his aid in fe^ifeting out the thieves,
which he appeared quite willing to render ; we exammed several skiffs
along the river bank, and at length came to one belonging to J. C.
Annis, an Elder. Markham observed that he believed James Dunn
(a son-in-law of Annis) was the thief, and added, '• Old Annis is, in

92 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

my opinion, no better.' - Pointing to the skiff, he continued, < If ^
that skiff could speak, it would tell you where your goods are.'
Some further conversation was had, as to the best plan of making
some discoveries of the robb«*8, and he ^Markham) gave the names
of James Dunn, an Elder ; D. B. Smim, a relative of the Prophet

Joe; ,0. p. Rockwell J Stevens; J.D. Parker, Elder and Capt.

Nauvoo Legion ; H. G. Sherwood, City Marshal and Elder, as
being very suspicious characters, at the same time remarking that
he did not believe Sherwood would be concerned in committing
any of the robberies himself, but that he would probably be willing
to share the plunder.

*^ The young man that accompanied the writer observed that he
formerly knew D. B. Smith in Ohio, and he thought he could gain
his confidence, and, by stratagem, obtain information of the place of
concealment of the stolen goods ; this, by the advice of a magistrate
and a legal gentleman, he undertook. To gain their confidence he
found an easy matter, and he soon had an interview with Dunn,
Smith, and Rockwell, who, he avers, proposed to him to aid them in
robbing the store of the undersigned. To this he assented, and the
arrangements were made on their part to commit the robbery, and on
ours to take them in the act. It is believed that up to this moment
Markham was desirous that the guilty should be cauffht ; but he,
with the other leaders, found the matter was going too far — that, if
we succeeded in catching so many of their elders, it would raise an
excitement against them, and show the world their true character.
Here, too, was a fine opportunity for the gratification of those
vindictive feelings by which it is well known Joe Smith is ever
actuated; the Prophet therefore caused the youn^ man to be ar-
rested, ordered him to give up every thing he had on his person,
cocked and presented his rifle, and threatened to shoot — to use his
own language on the occasion — ' quicker than hell can scorch
A FEATHER. The young man was taken before the Mayor's Court;
the six individuals above named were then called as witnesses ; and,
though they appeared to rejoice at their narrow escape through the
kindness of their leaders, they showed a spirit of vindictiveness
towards the youn? man who, from a sincere desire that justice might
be done, consented to watch their movements ; — they testified that he
had counterfeit coin in his possession. On the part of the defence,
it was proved that the coin was loaned to him by the Magistrate,
before alluded to, and the writer, — fiir the purpose of showing it, to
induce them to believe that he could supply any quantity, and to
inspire them with confidence in him. Yet, with all this testimony
ffoing to show his good intentions, that the coin was given to him
for a specific purpose, and that he was engaged in a laudable en-
deavor to bring the guilty to justice, this Mormon Court Martial
bound him over for his ajmearanee at Court; and where was Stephen
Markham, the Mormon leader, who could in one moment have set
the matter iA its true light .^ The moment the young man was
arrested, he mounted his horse and started for Quincy, and thus
avoided giving teslimony that would at once have set the young
man at liberty.

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTER. 93

^ With this matter is closely connected the conspiracy, as the
Mormons please to call it. A young man livinjg with Joe, a relative
of the Elect Lady, (Joe's wife,) by the name of Lorenzo D. Wasson,
andO. P. Rockwell, complained that the undersigned had conspired,
&c., to unlawfully procure an indictment.

'* The same six witnesses that appeared in the former case were
sworn on the part of tlie prosecutor. The undersigned, viewing the
whole proceedings with that contempt which they merited, asked
the witnesses no questions, and introduced no witnesses themselves ;
yet, with all their efforts, ilte complaint was unsustained by a
shadow of truth. To have done any thing with us under sudi cir-
cumstances would have been too barefaced even for a. Mormon Court
Martial, and we were, of course, immediately discharged by General
Bennett, the Chief Justice of the Mayor's Court. That this malicious
prosecution was instigated and set on foot by Joe Smith, it is use-
less for him to deny ; he said previously that he would have as
arrested, and afterwards boasted that' he had. As for his tool, Lo-
renzo D. Wasson, we have only to say, that he did not even make
his appearance in Court ; it was sufficient for him that, to please
the ' money-digger,' he had perjured himself for the purpose of in-
juring one who never saw him or heard of him before.

*' l^e evening that these proceedings took place, and during our
absence, a valuable horse was poisoned, and the evening subse-
quently another was poisoned. Thes^ two horses were standing in a
stable,. with their heads to open windows; three other horses, not
thus exposed, escaped.

<•*- Would it be taxing our credulity too much to believe that a man
who could conceive a murderous plot to assassinate a man (Mr.
Grandison Newell of Ohio) that opposed bis designs, and that has a
< Danitje Band ' * to haul his enemies into the brush,' and a ' Dk-
STROKING Ang£L,' Commissioned to kill their cattle, bum their build-
ings, poison their wells, and destroy their lives, if necessary to the
accomplishment of his infamous designs, — would not for a. moment
hesitate to employ desperadoes to commit any, or all, of the acts
of outrage with which we liave been visited?

<' Allusion has been made to a pretended revelation, which con-
flicts with the interests of the undersigned and others. Our object
being to strip from this Impostor the * silver veil ' that covers his
hideousness, we shall, in a future article, give a full history of the
revelation, and the interest with which it conflicts. It may appear
to some that our remarks about this bold Blasphemer are narsh in
the extreme; but a moment's reflection will convince any one, that
he is either what he claims to be, a Prophet of the Lord, or a seoun'
drd toithout one redeeming quality , ana capable of doing any deed of
darkness. " D. W . Kilbourn.,

<i Edward Kilbourn.

" MoNTnoBX, Iowa, ) ,

September ^, 1041." S

Hundreds of such cases might be enumerated, but the
above will suffice.

\.^ \

94 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

Few can doubt the profanity of many of the citizens of

Nauvoo, and the Prophet Joe, in particular. Mr. Benja-^

/ MiN AvisE, of Carthage, said that the first time he ever saw

/ Joe and heard him speak, he swore an oath ! Joe is noto-

J^ riously profane, but he says God will not notice him in

^ ' cursincr the damned Gentiles !

All who are acquainted with the Projihet know that he
gets most gloriously drunk, occasionally ; but he says he
only does this to try the faith of the Saints, and show them
that he is fallible, like other men.

I recollect once that I was taking tea at Joe's house,
when there were present, besides myself, Mrs. Merrick
^ and several gentlemen. Joe was in a very glorious state ;
so intoxicated, indeed, that he could scarcely hold up his
head. The Elect Lady, Emma, having left the room in
disgust at her husband's beastly state, the Prophet began to
fancy that we were all suspiciously observing him ; and I
shall never forget the ludicrous gravity in which he leaned
forward over the table, and addressing Mrs. Merrick,
hiccoughed out, ** Sister — Merrick — do — j/ou — feel
ruined ? " Joe took the bowl of Bacchus that day with
a perfect looseness !

I recollect, upon another occasion, when the female por-
tion of Doctor O'Harra's family were on a visit at old Mrs.
Smith's, Joe happened in, tolerably drunk, and commenced
discoursing in a very low and vulgar manner, much to the
annoyance of the ladies. After he had taken his exit,
Miss Margaret O'Harra observed, **What ruffian is
that, pray?" To which the old lady replied, " O, I per-
ceive you are not acquainted with our folks ; that is our
son, Joseph, the Prophet." I thank Miss O'Harra for the
suggestion. ** The Ruffian Prophet " is quite an appro-
priate name for the beast. The reader will perceive that
Joe has not that regard for temperance that his vote on the
city temperance ordinance, which I wrote and procured
him to present to the Council, would seem to indicate. His
advocacy of that wholesome measure was a mere ruse
for foreign consumption.

It would appear, likewise, from the following complaint,
taken from the city records, that there is some spirit sold^
and consequently drank, in the Holy City.

r

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CRARACTEIU 95

** To JoHH C^ BsKHXTT, Major of the City of Nauvoo.

*' Respected Sir, —

*^ I have complaints to make, against the following indi-
yiduals, for selling spirituous limufrs, contrary to the laws of this
city, viz. : — John Mcllwrick ana Ebenezer Jennings.

" John Mcllwrick, for retailing whisky to Marffaret Robinson,
on the twenty-first of April, 1842. Witnesses, — Alice Martin and
Lucy Clayton.

"E'oenezer Jennings, for retailing whisky, on the seventeenth
of March, 1842. Witness, — Mary Hardman.

" / am sorry to see the drunkenness that has of late manifested
itself m our cUy, and for one woald rejoice to see it put to an end.
Cases are almost daily occurring ; but, /iw want of tim^, I am not
able to obtain the necessary evidence. The above cases are collect-
ed, merely to show to the individuals concerned, that people are
aware of their transgression of the laws ; and if the law is put in
force upon them, I am in hopes that it will serve as a warnings and
lestraint for the future. Yours, with respect,

" William Clayton.
«* Nauvoo City, May 9, 1842."

When liars, black-hearted liars, — such as the holy trio,
Smith, Law, and Taylor, — are so barefaced as to chal-
lenge the records, their refuge of lies shall not cover them.

** Because ye have said. We have made a covenant with death,
and with hell are we at agreement : when the overflowing scourge
shall pass through, it shall not come unto us : for we have made lies
our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves." — Isaiah
28: 15.

"And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your
agreement with hell shall not stand ; when the overflowing scourge
shall pass through, then shall ye be trodden down by it. — Isaiah
28: 18.

It is very evident, from the above, that these pretended
men of God, who speak as they are " moved by the Holy
Ghost," are not in all cases to be depended upon, even
when they make careful and deliberate statements through
their public newspaper, the acknowledged organ of their
Church, and the frequent medium of their inspired com-
munications to the world. Is it not plain, that even the
Prophet can sometimes be mistaken in his assertions, even
if we acquit him of the guilt of lying, by supposing that he
is ignorant of the notorious facts we have quoted?

It would also seem that the Holy City of Nauvoo is not
quite so pure and inoffensive a place as has been represent-
ed ; but that, on the contrary, whatever may be the moral

96 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS^

professions made, the practice does not altogether conform
thereto ; and that there is almost as much dep ravity as i s
commonly found in a Gentile city of the same size.

JOE'S BANKRUPT APPLICATION.

The Bankrupt law, section 2, provides that no convey-
ances of property shall be made in contemplation of bank*
Tuptcy, subsequent to the 1st of January, 1841; and an
Act concerning Religious Societies, under which the Mor-
mon Church was incorporated, provides for the appoint-
ment of TRUSTEES, UOt a SOLE TRUSTEE IN TRUST, who

are authorized "topurchase a quantity of land not exceed-
ing five acres," &c. &c. See act appiloved Feb. 6, 1835.

Frwa a Book of Mortgages and Bonds, page 95.

" City of Nautoo, Hancock Co., lUinoia, i
February 2, A. D. 1842. \ .

" To the County Recorder of the county of Hancock :
"Dear Sir, —

** At a meeting of the * Church of Latter Day Saints * at
this place, on Saturday the 30th day of January, A. D. 1841, 1 was
elected sole Trustee for said Church, to hold my office during life^
(my successor to be the First Presidency of said Church,) and vested
with plenary powers as sole Trustee in Trust for the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints, to receive, acquire, manage and convey
property, real, personal, or mixed, for the sole use and benefit of said
Church, agreeable to the provisions of an act entitled *An Act con-
cerning Religious Societies,' approved February 6, 1835.

"Joseph Smith, [L. S.] "

"Stats of Illinois,).
• Hancock County, j "*

" This day personally appeared before me,
Daniel H. Wells, a justice of the peace, within and for the county
of Hancock aforesaid, Isaac Galland, Robert B. Thompson, and
John C. Bennett, who, being duly sworn, depose and say that the
foregoing certificate of Joseph Smith is true.

" Isaac Galland,
" R. B. Thompson,
"John C. Bennett.

" Sworn to and subscribed this third day of February, in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, before me,

"Daniel H Wklls, Justice of the Peace,**

r

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHABACTER. 91

Comjpendious Extrcuts from the Records of Hancock County.

*' In book R, page 21, there is a deed from Joseph Smith and wife
to Julia M. Smith, Joseph Smith, Jr., F. G. W. Smith, and Alex-
ander Smitli, (the first an adopted daughter, and the remainder all
small children of Joseph and £mma Smith,) executed December 21,

1841, and recorded January 1, 1842, for lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, block
12, in the city of Nauvoo, — for the consideration of * one hundred
doUurs to them in hand paid/ — property worth about three thou-
sand dollars.

" Another in the same book, p. 151, from the same to the same,
(Joseph Smith and wife to their children,) executed March 17,

1842, and recorded April 9, 1842, for the east half of south-east
31, 5 north, 8 west; and west half of north-west 5, and east half
of north-east 6, 4 nortii, 8 west — for the consideration of two thou-
sand dollars.

" Another in the same book, (R,) pages 159, 160, and 161, from
Joseph Smith and wife to Joseph Smith, as sole Trustee in trust for
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, executed October
5, 1841, and recorded April 18, 1842, {the same day he visited
Carthage to file his schedule for — bankruptcy j and I have no doubt
the deed was executed on the 16th, ITtn, 18th, or 19th of April,
1842, and ante-dated to October 5, 1841, for so Joe informed me,
and Dr. Marshall, Esquire Sherman, and others, of Carthage, stated
that the writing was fresh, and changed materially in appearance
soon after ; and on the 7th of July, lwl2, Calvin A. Warren, Esq.,
one of Joe's Attorneys in Bankruptcy, acknowledged to Dr. Mar-
shall, the County Clerk, and myself, m the Clerk's Office, that the
deed was executed in April, '42, and not in October, '41, as afore-
said, but that he was not privy to the fraud) — for (230) two hundred
and thirty Tots, or thereabouts, mostly in the * White rurchase,' for
the consideration of the sum of one dollar to them in hand paid,
on a just and lawful settlement between themselves in person, and
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, — Property worth
from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and thirty thousand dol-
lars, at the rate that Joe is selling it — from five to fifteen hundred
dollars a lot.

" Another in book I, page 329, from Ebenezer F. Wiggins to
Emma Smith, executed May 15, 1841, and recorded June 30,
1841, for west half of north-west quarter 30, 7 north, 8 west, and
the west half of north-east 30, 7 north, 8 west, for the consideration
of ($2,700) two thousand seven hundred dollars, — paid for by Joe,
and worth about three thousand dollars.

" Another in the same book, (1,) page 243, from Daniel H. Wells
and wife to Joseph Smith, Jr., (Joe's son,) executed May 5, 1841,
and recorded May 6, 1841, for lots 1 and 4, block 22, in Walls's ad-
dition to Nauvoo, for the consideration of one hundred dollars.

" Another in the same book, page 354, from Robert B. Thompson
and wife to Emma Smith, (Joe's wife,) executed July 24, 1841,
and recorded July 27, 1841, for south-east fractional quarter of
section 2, 6 north, 9 west, containing 123 43-100 acres, for the con-
sideration of ($4,000) four thousand dollars.

9

98 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

** Another in same book, pa^e 355, from same to Frederick G. W,
Smith, (Joe's son,) executed July 24, 1841, and recorded July
27, 1H41, for part of block 156, in Nauvoo, for the consideration
of ($500) five hundred dollars."

If an official certificate is required, call upon Chauncey
Robinson, Esq., the Recorder of Hancock, and he will
certify that these are correct extracts from the county
records. There are various other matters of record that
could be made to operate against this king of swindlers
and impostors, Joe Smith ; but I presume that the fore-
going will be sufficient to give him a comfortable home in
the State Penitentiary, at Alton, for some years to come,
if Missouri does not get him first.

If oral testimony is required, call upon General George
W. Robinson, Colonel Francis M. Higbee, and others,
who are acquainted with the transactions. Call out these
witnesses in relation to the sham sales of valuable property
made to Apostle Willard Richards, and Bishop N. K.
Whitney, and others, by Joe, in order to prepare for the
bankruptcy. The Hotchkiss Purchase, called Church
property, — but which is not paid for, — was given in by
Joe in his schedule as his own individual property, which
it undoubtedly was ; but the White Purchase (south-east
fractional quarter of section 2, 6 north, 9 west,) which IS
PAID FOR, was deeded to Thompson, Joe's clerk, who had
no property, and from Thompson to Emma Smith, (Joe's
wife,) and from Joseph Smith and wife to Joseph Smith,

SOLE TRUSTEE IN TRUST, &C.

Remember that the White Purchase was called Church
property, but it was and is Joe's own individual estate.
He said in a public congregation in Nauvoo, a few weeks
ago, " I own a million of dollars in property, in this city
and around it." Can this swindler take the benefit of the
bankrupt law ! Never ! No, never \ ! Let a prosecution
be at once instituted against his Holiness, and let the law
have its just operations once.

I shall now give the testimony of the Messrs. Kilbourns,
of Iowa, in relation to Joe's swindling operations in Iowa
lands.

JOE SMITH HIS CLAIMS AND CHARACTER. 99

Ihm Vie Hawk'Eife and Patriot, October 7, 1841.

'* It is generally known, that a tract of land, containing 119,000
acres, lying im the extreme southern part of our Territory, which
firom its form, — bounded as it is on the east by the Mississippi, and
on the south and west by the Des Moines River, — may not inaptly
be termed the Delta of Iowa, was in 1824 reserved by treaty for the
use of the *• Half Breeds of the Sac and Fox Nation of Indians ;
they holding it by the same title that other Indian lands are held,' —
i. e. possession, — the United States retaining a reversionary interest,
or the right to purchase it. In June, 1834, Congress relinquished to
the ^ Half-Breeds of the Sac and Fox Nation of Indians ' this re-
versionary interest, and authorized them to transfer their portions
thereof by sale, devise, or descent.

*^Bv an unaccountable oversight, the names of the individuals
intended to be benefited by this reservation of land, were neither
introduced into the treaty nor in the act of Congress alluded to,
and the term ' Half Breeds ' of the Sac and Fox Nation was so
indefinite, that a wide door was at once opened for the introduction
of spurious and doubtful claims, and from forty or fifty in number,
they soon increased to one hundred and sixty.

^^ In the summer and fall of 1836, a company of gentlemen from
New York made extensive purchases of Half Breed sharea On
accoun't of the intimate knowledge that Doctor Galland was sup-
posed to have of the * Half Breeds,' he was admitted as a member of
this company, and was constituted one of their five trustees. Their
confidence, however, in his inte^ity was of short duration, and as a
majority of the trustees controlled the affairs of the company, his
power to injure t/iem was of short continuance.

" In the winter of 1837-8, a law was passed for the partition of
the Half Breed tract ; commissioners were appointed to receive
testimony, &c. ; the succeeding legislature, however, repealed the
law, and left the matter, if possible, worse than before. Every
attempt that had been made to adjust the title, had not only signally
&iled, but seemed to increase the difficulties that clustered around
it, and the public mind had settled down into the conviction that
any further effort of the kind would be entirely fruitless,

^^ The ingenuity of Doctor Galland, however, found, in this state
of things, a fine field for the exercise of his peculiar talents ; and in
the year 1839, he matured the plan of a stupendous fraud. He
wrote to Joe Smith, — who was then most righteously imprisoned
in Missouri, on charges o^High Treason^ Burglary^ Arson, &c. &c.,
— inviting him to purchase his land at Nauvoo, — 47 acres. — Smith,
after making his escape, complied, and brought on his half-starved
followers, a large number of whom settlea on the * Half Breed
Reserve ' in Iowa. Doctor G. then commenced selling Half Breed
lands, giving therefor toarrantee deeds, whicn of course could con-
vey no title while the lands remained undivided. He at first
asserted that he was the owner of seven tenths of the tract, and
finally claimed to be the sole proprietor.

'' That he might the more successfully carry out the scheme of
swindling thus commenced, he attached himself to the Mormon

100 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

Church ! became a confederate of Joe Smith, and in order to dupe
persons daily airiving among them, he deeded to Mormon Bishops
and Prophets^ thousands and tens of thousands of acres of the reser-
vation Eluded to, and they are daily deeding by warrantee deeds
the lands thus acquired, and receiving therefor a valuable consid-
eration.

^^ By a recent judicial decision it is ascertained that the interest to
which this man Galland is entitled, is but a small, undefined, undi-
vided portion of the Half Breed reservation.

*' Our object is not so much to draw the portrait of Galland, —
for his character is too well known to require an extended notice
here, — as to show the connection between him and the swindling
leaders of the Mormon society. With a full knowledge of all the
facts here stated, he is sent out with a *• Proclamation to the Saints
abroad — Greeting ;' signed by Joseph Smith, Sidney Ri^don, and
Hyrum Smith, — the two latter of whom, the Times and Seasons
informs us, * have been appointed, by revelation, Prophets, Seers, and
Revelators,' — in which it is said that *he (Galland) is the hon-
ored instrument the Lord used to prepare a home for us when we
were driven from our inheritance, hiving given hint control of voAt
bodies of land, and prepared his heart to make the use of it the Lord
intended he should.*

^^ Many instances might be mentioned of individuals at the east.,
who have exchanged with the * Agents of the Church ' their valua-
ble possessions for these worthless land titles, and there are cases of
suffering, of families reduced to beggary, bv these villains, which
would cause them, were they other Uian the heartless wretches they
are, to relent, and desist from their cruel purpose.

" Do these Prophets share in the plander ? If the reader has
thrown the mantle of charity over them thus far, it will require
enlarging to cover a pretended * revelation ' upon matters and things
in general, published in their paper of June 1, in which — speak-
ing of the Nauvoo Boarding House — the following passage occurs :
* Let my servant, Isaac G^land, put stock in that nouse, for I the
Lord loveth him for the works he has done, and will forgive all his
sins, therefore let him be remembered for an interest in that house
from generation to generation.*

*^ When it is known that one of these Prophets acts in the absence

of Galland as his Agent for the sale of these lands, what further

evidence, we ask, is wanted of the baseness and rascalitr of himself

and his confederates .'' "D. W. ^ilbourn,

'* Edward Kilbourn.
" MoirTROB£, Iowa, October 6, 1841."

jFVoffi the Hawk-Eye and Patriot of October 14, 184L

^* It is perhaps unnecessary to say that in these numbers it is not
our purpose to enter into any controversy with the * Mormons *
relevant to their religious belief. It is sufficiently humiliating to
be compelled, by a strong sense of duty, to expose their nefarious
conduct. Confining ourselves strictly to facts, we shall leave them

JOE SMITH ^^ HIS CLAIMS AND CHABACTER. 101

fer others to draw their own inferences. That there may he no mis-
apprehension as to the individuals meant, we shall freely make use
<^f their names, and should injustice he done them, they can resort
to their legal remedy, assuring them that if a single statement of
ours is denied, we stand prepared to establish its truth by a host of
witnesses.

** In a previous number we gave a brief history of the ' Half
Breed Reservation,' and stated that <a company of New York
^ntlemen made extensive purchases of HaJf Breed claims.' The
■same gentlemen, by their agents, were placed in possession of the
barracks at Camp Des Moines, on their abandonment by the United
fitates dragoons in June, 1837, and soon afler caused a town to be
surveyed, to which the name of » Montrose ' was given, and the
name of the post-office was changed, at the request of the citizens,
from * Fort Des Moines ' to * Montrose.'

*''' In addition to the numerous difficulties surrounding the ' Half
Breed title/ an old < Spanish claim ' was raked up from me oblivion
of a former age, and a patent issued in 1839 to the claimants under
it for a tract of land one mile square, including the town site of
Montrose.

" The gentlemen in possession, however, having * nine points of
the law ' in their favor, could, of course, hold 'the premises a^nst
the world, till a final adjudication of the whole matter. This the
* Spanish claimants ' well knew, and recognized them as being in
peaceable possession by instituting suit in our courts, which is still
pending.

'' The parties interested flattered themselves that when their con-
flicting Claims should be settled, all obstacles to the improvement of
the place, and its becoming — what, from the beauty of its situation,
it was intended for by nature — a lar^e and flourishmg town, would
be removed ; but, alas ! how vain anu delusive are all human hopes
and expectations. A Oiird claimant appears in the person of Joe
Smith, with a title purporting to be Heaven derived. Early one morn-
ing in March last, the quiet citizens of Montrose were surprised by a
visit from some of Joe Smith's scullions from Nauvoo, — who to all
appearance had but recently made their escape from a steel trap, —
headed by Alanson Ripley, a Mormon Bishop^ who says that * as to
the technical niceties of the law of the land, he does not intend to regard
them ; that the kingdom spoken of by the prophet Daniel has been set up,
UTid that it is necessary every kingdom should be governed by its own
laws.' With compass and chain they strided through gates and over
fences to the very doors of the * Grentiles,' and drove the stakes for the
lots of a city which, in extent at least, — four miles square, — should
vie with some of the largest cities of the world. They heeded not
enclosures ; why should they ? is not the earth the Lord's, and the
fulness thereof? and shall not his * Saints'— -of the Latter Day —
inherit and possess it forever ?

" ' The kingdom spoken of by the prophet Daniel ' having been
set up, its * laws ' authorized this Mormon Bishop to threaten per-
sonal violence to one of the undersigned, for removing a stake
which had been driven within the bounds of his enclosare, without

9*

102 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

his coneent and contrary to his wishes, and to hold a 'club over the
head of Mr. A. M. Bissell, while one of his < steel trap ' comrades
drove a stake within the enclosare of Mr. Bissell, directly before his
door, afler having been forbidden by him to do so.

*^ A few days subsequently to these occurrences, it was ascertained
that the exterior line of this ' four mile ' town had been run by
order of Joe Smith, and a plot of it made and recorded, to which he
gave the name of 2arahemla.

"^ And who figures as proprietor of this renowned city ? Joe
Spaith, to be sure, ' the JlgaU of Doctor GaUand,' — a worthy agent
for a worthy principal !

^' Having sold to his dupes a large portion of the Half Breed
tract, a happy thought strikes him that they can yet be * bled j ' he
orders them by ' revelation ' to leave their fine farms and move into
the ^ city,* sells them lots and conveys them by deeds. There would
be some excuse for these proceedings had they taken place under
any color of title, but he had not the shadow of a shade to found a
right upon. In this view of the case, was there ever a more bare-
faced attempt at swindling than this ^

" On the 6th of April, at a conference held at Nauvoo, a Mormon
leader publicly read a pretended * revelation ' that the city of Zara-
hemla should be laid out and built up by the * Latter Day Saints!*
Joe Smith then stated that, ' in accordance witli this revelation,* a
city had been surveyed, and the Saints desirous of purchasing lots
could now do so. * The people over there,' said he, *are very much
opposed to it, but they must Know — if they know any thing — that
it would be for their interest to have 5000 mhabitants come in with
back loads of money ; why, I sometimes think they don't know
beans when the bag is open ; they needn't be scared ; we don't want
their improvements without paying them for them j we expect to
pay them a ^ood price for their possessions, and if that don't satisfy
them, we^ll nave them any how.'

" Are the people of Iowa prepared to submit to such treatment
from an Impostor as vile as ever disgraced humanity ? Are we to
be told that 'if you choose to sell, we will buy your possessions, if
not, we will have them any how ' .'' Is the title to land hereafter
to be settled by revelation tlirough Joe Smith ? Has the time indeed
arrived when * the kingdom is to be set up by forcible means if
necessary,' and when the riches of the Gentiles are to be conse-
crated to the true Israel .-' Such were the teachings of the leaders
of this society in Missouri, and the facts here stated show con-
clusively that such are their teachings and practices now,

<' Have we not some reason to believe that' their Missouri troubles
were not solely for righteousness' sake, but that they there, as here,
disregarded all law, human and divine, and by their conduct brought
down upon their own heads the vengeance of an outraged and
insulted people ? Robbery and thefl with them are called ' conse-
cratinff the property of the Gentiles.' Since the publication of the
second number of these articles, we were called from home by
business, and during our absence our store was broken open in the
early part of the evening of Wednesday, the 6th inst., before the

THE BOOK or MOBMON. ]03

young man who slept in the store retired for the night, and robbed
of goods to the amount of between three and four hundred dolhirs,
to wit:

42 pieces dark prints, (entire,)
5 or 6 " " satinets,
1 '' black Circassian,
and a considerable quantity of cambric book muslins, jaconet,
sarsenet, &c. &,c. This stands on our list as robbery No. 14.

'^ The undersigned, however, are not the only sufferers ; this our

* Gentile ' neighbors know by sad experience. The four wheels of
a new farm wagon were stolen from the yard of Harman Booth,
Esq., a few nights since ', and the week previous, all the tools of the
blacksmith shop of Mr. S. H. Burtis, with a fine two-horse wagon,
were taken. Is it not a singular fact that the enclosures of the

* Gentiles,* and their buildings even, are entered, and property
stolen, while the wagons and farming utensils of these ' Latter Day
Saints ' stand exposed in the open street, far from any dwelling, and
yet are perfectly secure ?

<< Why is it that those who oppose this swindle are the principal,
jf not the only, sufferers ?

" D. W. KiLBOURN,

" Edward Kilbourn
" MoNTRoss, loMra, October 13, 1841."

THE BOOK OF MORMON — ITS ORIGIN, AND
THE EVIDENCE OF ITS TRUTH.

In this article, likewise, I shall extract from the works
of Harris and Howe, and that of Professor J. B. Turner,
of Illinois College, Jacksonville.

" Our first point respects the character and credibility of Joseph
Smith, Jr., who announces himself, on the title-page of the first
edition of the Book of Mormon, as ^the author and proprietor*
of that work.

" We cannot conceive how any man of common sense could ever
have imagined that God, or any other being, except Joe Smith, was
either the author or proprietor of such a book. The only difficulty
is, to see how God can be responsible for a work of which Josepn
Smith is ^^^utkor and Proprietor;^ and one ground on which such
a claim must be sustained, is the admitted excellence and trust-
worthiness of Joseph Smith's moral character.

104 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

" We admit that a man may have great faults, and still be not
only worthy of credit, but an accredited and appropriate agent of the
Most High.

" All the ancient worthies, wlio spake as they were moved by the
Holy Gliost, were frail and sinfiil men, like ourselves ; still they
became the approved and accredited messengers of God.

" We admit, also, that God often chooses < the weak things of the
world to confound the wise ; ' and that want of mere worldly talent,
acquirement, or genius, is therefore no insuperable objection to the
credibility of a prophet of the Lord.

** Still, we contend that God never has, and never will, choose a
character notoriously weak, silly, profane, and rotten in all its parts,
to deliver a new dispensation of his will to man.

" Whaty then, was the notorious character of Joseph Smith
BEFORE, AND AT THE TIME of the Writing of the Book of Mormon i "
— Mormordsm in all Ages, by J. B. Turner, pp. 150, 151 .

<9 >»

" THE TESTIMONY OP THREE WITNESSES.

'' ^ Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples,
unto whom this work shall come, that we, through the grace of
God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates
which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi,
and also of the Lamanites, his brethren, and also of the people of
Jared, which came from the tower of which hath been spoken j and
we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power
of God J for his voice hath declared it unto its. Wherefore we know
of a surety that the work is true.

" ' And we also testify that we have seen the engravings, which
are upon the plates, and they have been shown unto us by the power
of Godf and not of man. And we declare, with words of soberness,
that an angel of God came from heaven, and he brought and laid
before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates and the engrav-
ings thereon. And we know that it is by the grace of God the
Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld, and bear record
that these things are true : and it is marvellous in our eyes. Never-
theless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear
record of it. Wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments
of God, we bear testimony to these things; and we know that if
we are faithful in Christ we shall rid our garments of the blood of
all men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ,
and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor
be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is
one God. Amen.

"* Oliver CowDERY,
" * David Whitmer,
"'Martin Harris.*

" The reader is requested to notice particularly the words in
Italics. One would indeed think, that if nonest men had heard and
seen such marvels, they ought, at loast, themselves to have believed

THE BOOK OF MORMON. 105

it through life, and lived accordingly, as the apostles did." — Mor-
monism in all Ages, by J. B. Turner, pp. 164, 165.

" As regards the capacity of the witnesses, the reader is referred
to a revelation given, June, 1829, through Joseph Smith, to these
three identical witnesses the year before they appended their names
to the Book of Mormon, which we will transcribe.

" ' Revelation to Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin
Harris, given through Joseph SmiUi, June, 1829, previous to their
viewing the plates containing the Book of Mormon.'

*' 1. ' Behold, I say unto you, that you must rely upon my word;
which if you do with full purpose of heart, you shall have a view of
the plates, and also of the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the
Urim and Thummim, which were given to the brother of Jared,
upon the mount, when he talked with the Lord face to face, and the
miraculous directors, which were given to Lehi in the wilderness,
on the borders of the Red Sea; and it is by your faith you shall
obtain a view of them, even by that faith which was had by the
prophets of old.'

** 2. * And after you have obtained faith, and have seen them with
your eyes, you shall testify of them by the power of God; and this
you shall do, that my servant, Joseph, Smith, Jr., may not be de-
Grayed, that I may bring about my righteous purposes unto the
children of men in this work. Jind ye shall testify tiiat you have seen
them^ even as my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., has seen them; for it
is by my power he hath seen them, and it is because he had faith.
And H£ HAS TRANSLATJCD THE BOOK, cveu that part which I have
commanded him, and as tour Lord aud tour God liTeth, it

18 TRUE.'

'^ 3. ' Wherefore you have received the same power, and the same
faith, and the same gift, like unto him. And. if you do these last
commandments of mine, which I have given you, the gates of hell
shall not prevail against you ; for my grace is sufficient for you ;
and you shall be lifled up in the last day. And I, Jesus Christ,
your Lord and your God, have spoken it unto you, that I might
bring about my righteous purposes unto the children of men. Jimen.*

(( A- revelation given to Martin Harris, by Smith, March, 1829,
also contains the identical words paraded forth to the world in the
testimony of the three witnesses.

^' Verse 5. * And then shall he (Harris) say unto the people of
this generation : Behold, I have seen the things which the Lord
hath shown to Joseph Smith, Jr., and / know ^ a surety that they
are true, for they have been shown unto me by the power of God, and
not of man, and these are the words he shall say,' &c.

*< The voice of the Lord, then, it seems, which informed the wit^
nesses that Smith had translated the plates, and caused them to
know of a surety that they are true, and commanded them to bear
record of it, in 1830, in the Book of Mormon — this same voice came
to them through the mouth of the Liord's Prophet, Smith, in March
and June preceding, that is, in 1829*

/

]06 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

<* They are told in this revelation that they should obtain a view
of the plates, or see them, not with their natural eyes, but with
those spirituaJ eyes of faith with which the Mormons see so many
marvels, viz., by the * eye of faith, even by that faith which was had
by the prophets of old.' This accords with the admissions of Martin
Harris, who expressly stated that he did not see the plates with his
natural eyes, but with * the eye of faith.'

" Here, then, is the * mighty power of Grod, the angel, and voice
of the Lord,' which revealed such marvels in 1830, all concentrated
in the person, and pouring from the mouth, of the Lord's Prophet
in 1829.

" Was there ever impudence and stupidity like this ? Why did
the dunce publish tliat revelation to the world, especially since he
has retained in his own hands, to this day, hundreds of others
equally inspired ? Was it for the express purpose of disclosing his
own impudence and knavery ? Or was it (as he himself once re-
marked to Peter Ingersoll) to see what the ^d d fools would

believe ' ?

" fiut after all, these witnesses of inspiration did not testify to one
half that Smith's divinity commanded them to declare. They were
so absorbed in their visions and golden dreams about the plates,
that they forgot to testify, as commanded, of the ^ breastplate,' the
* sword of Laban,' the * Urim and Thummim,' the miraculous
' directors,' &c. &c. Perhaps this negligence was the reason that
the said divinity gave them all over to subsequent unbelief and
hardness of heart, to work all kind of abominations, and be * guilty
of all manner of debaucheries,' as the Prophet assures us is the fact.

" Their capacity as witnesses, then, to say nothing of their
honesty, amounts simply to this — Joe Smith puts the words of the
Lord into their mouths, in 1829, and they repeat a part of the same
to the world in 1830. Surely, if the Prophet, in his pious rebuke
of his witnesses, had only thought to have referred to this trans-
action, he might not only have called them *• knaves and asses,' but
proved them such. Doubtless he thought the world would take his
inspired testimony to the fact, without logical proof; we only supply
the proof, without questioning the fact." — Mormonism in aU Ages^
by J. B. Turner^ pp. 172—175.

*' The sublime testimony of the second phalanx of eight witnesses
is as follows : —

'^ < Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people,
unto whom this work shall come, that Joseph Smith, Jr., author
and PROPRIETOR ( ! ! ) of this work, has shown unto us the plates,
o£ which hath been spoken^ which have the appearance of gold } and
as many leaves as the said Smith has translated^ we did handle with
our hands, and we saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the
appearance of ancient work and of curious workmanship. And this
we bear record, with words of soberness, that the said Smith has
shown unto us, for we have seen, and hefted, and know of a surety,
that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken.

THE BOOK OF MORMON. 107

And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the
world that which we have seen, and we lie not, God bearing witness
of it.

" * Christian Whitmer,
" * Jacob Whitmer,
" ' Peter Whitmer, Jr.,
"*JoHir Whitmer,
" 'Hiram Page, brother-in-
law of the Whitmers,
"* Joseph Smith, Sen.,
" * Hyrom Smith,
*' * Samuel H. Smith.'

" By turning to the same revelation, quoted above, the reader will
again see how this second platoon of witnesses '• hefted^ and * knew
€f a surety ^' that the said Smith had the plates ' of lokich hath been
spoken,^ It is Joe Smith, thought, style, and all, from a to izzard.
And what does it all prove .'' First, that Joe Smith is author and
proprietor of the Book of Mormon, as all the world knows. Second,
that they saw and ' hefled ' some plates shown them by Smith.
What if they did .•* How did they know what or how many plates
Smith had translated, when, by their own confession, they could
not read a word on any of them ? Joe Smith told them so.
And this is all their testimony amounts to, on the face of it, by their
own showing. We are not only willing, but anxious to admit that
Smith did show some plates, of some sort; and that the^ actually
testify to the truth, so far as they were capable of knowmg it, we
are not only willing, but anxious to admit, in order to keep up a
just and charitable equilibrium between the knaves and fools, in
Mornionism and the world at large. Three to eight is at once a
happy and reasonable proportion. We will not disturb it. It is
grati^ing to human philanthropy to be able to account for all the
facts in me case by this charitable solution.

" Three of these witnesses, we are boastingly told, died in the
faith; and we should naturally have expected that any man who
could have been induced to set his name to such a silly paper as
that is, would have died in almost any faith. The only thing that
looks strange about it is, that all the rest, except the brothers of the
Prophet, have had sense enough to apostatize and leave tlie Church,
(with proper discipline, of course.) Perhaps it is well for the world,
and well for these three, that they did not live to go the same way
with all the rest, and fall with Harris into ^ all manner of abom-
inations.'

" The whole, then, of this mighty array of bombast, nonsense,
and blasphemy, resolves itself into this : —

•" Joe Smith is not only author and proprietor of the Book
Mormon, as both he and his witnesses declare, but he is also
' power of God,' 'angel,' 'voice,' 'faith,' 'eyes,' ears and hands for
the witnesses themselves; that is, all the evidence the world has
for the Book of Mormon, after all this bluster, is ' Joe Smithes say
so.' He says that (xod instructs him, he instructs the witnesses,

108 HISTORY OP THE SAINTS.

and the witnesses instruct the world. Quod erat demonstrandum.
David Whitmer reported that the anffel, which appeared unto him,
' was like a man in gray clothes, havmg his throat cut.' This was
prohablj a prophetic vision, indicating the true desert of the real
author.

" In further elucidation of what Mormons mean by the ' power of
God,' the reader is referred' to the Book of Mormon, pp. 420, 421 ;
the Book of Covenants, p. 102, v. 12 — 173, v. 5. It will there be
seen that this voice and power of God is a small affair, which every
enthusiast can have, and see at any time he pleases, especially if
Smith is at hand.

" Since, then, we are obliged, after all, to take Joe's word, simply,
for his new Bible, it may be interesting to the world to know how
he was enabled to translate it, oiit of the Reformed Egyptian, into
^patent English.' He has told us that he looked into his stone
spectacles, and saw the words pass before his mind. But he informs
us more explicitly still, in the famous book of Revelations and
Covenants, in which, after all, it must be candidly admitted, that
the Lord has clearly revealed some things — at least one, and that

is the KNAVERY OF JoB SmTTH.

" If the reader will turn to the revelation given b^ Smith to O.
Cowdery, in Harmony, Pennsylvania, April, 1829, while translating
the Gold Bible, (see Book of Covenants, 110,) he will perceive
that Oliver's faith had begun to fail. He had got tired of writing
the gibberish of Smith, and needed a word of exhortation and en-
couragement. Smith's divinity gives him both, of course, and also,
to pacify him, grants him the gift to translate, * even as my servant
Joseph, (verse 11.) At this, it appears that Oliver took courage,
put on the spectacles, planted himself in due order, before the mys-
tic plates, and looked with all his might, but saw nothing. Oliver,
of course, becomes more uneasy and intractable than ever.. He
complains more than before, and with more reason too. And now,
for a new revelation, of the same date, pat upon the other, which
contained the grant of the gift to Oliver to translate.

" We will quote a verse or two of this revelation from Smith's
* unchanging Deity.' Verse 2, page 162 : ' Be patient, my son Oli-
ver, for it is wisdom in me, and it is not expedient that you should
translate at this present time. Behold, the work you are called to do
is to vrritefor my servant Joseph. And behold, it is because you did
not continue, as you commenced, when you began to translate, that
I have taken away this privilege from you. ^ Do not murmur, my
son, for it is wisdom in me that I have dealt with you after this
manner.' (Undoubtedly ! !)

" Verse 3 : * Behold, you have not understood. You have sup-
posed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save
it ujas to ask me. But behold, I say unto you. You must study u^
OUT IN YOUR OWN MIND. ( ! ) Then you must ask me if it be righ^
and if it is right, I will cause that your bosom shall burn within
yoii. THEREFORE (!!) you shall feel that it is right. But
if it is not right, vou shall have no such feelings ; but you shall
have a stupor of thought j tliat shall cause you to forget the thing

THE BOOK OF MOBMON. 109

which is torong. THEREFORE ( ! ! ) you cannot write that which
IB sacred, save it be given you from me.' 2d ed.

^* Here, in the first place, we see that Smith's Divinity found it
expedient * to deviate a little,' and retract the divinity-given gift con-
ferred the same day.

" In the second, we have his patent divine prescription for writing
thiiigs sacred^ in detail ; and, of course, the method which Smith
has followed m translating his Bible, and giving his other revelations
to the world. He ' studied it out in his own mind,' and when he
got it right, ^his bosom burned,' of course. With this patent recipe
before him, we see not why any man might not translate, or give
revelations, as well as Smith, unless he was afflicted with that un-
accountable stupor of thought, which seems to unfit all other Mormons
for tlie work^ except Smith. Perhiips, if brother Cowdery should try
his hand at it now, since he has had wit enough to leave the Mor-
mons, he would succeed in raising the needful heat better than
before.

" Those in other churches, who are in the habit Of practising upon
the same principle, would do well to commit Smith's rule to memo-
ry, since it accurately describes the process of securing miraculous
confirmations of any known or imagined troth."

Mormonism in all Ages, by J. B. Turner, pp. 177 — 181.

From Mormonism Portrayed, hy Rev. fFm, Harris,

** The Bpok of Mormon, which may be said to be at the founda->
tion of Mormonism, was first published in the year 1830. Since
that period, its believers and advocates have propagated its doctrines
and absurdities, with a zeal worthy of a better cause. Through
every State of the Union, and in Canada, the Apostles of this wfld
delusion have dissemin^d its principles, and duped hundreds to
believe it true — they have crossed the ocean, and, in England, if
their own accounts may be credited, have made thousands of con-
verts * and recently some of their missionaries have even been sent
to Palestine. Such strenuous exertions having been, and still being
made, to propagate the doctrines of this book, and such fruits having
already appeared from the labors of its friends, it becomes a matter
of some interest, to investigate its origin and claims.

" The Book of Mormon purports to be the record, or history, of a
certain people, who inhabited America, previous to its discovery by
Columbus. This people, according to it, were the descendants of
one Lehi, who crossed the ocean, from the eastern continent, to
this. Their history and records, containing prophecies and reve^
lations, were engraven, by the command of God, on small plates,
and deposited in the hill Comora, which appears to be situated in
Western New York. Thus was preserved an account of this race,
(together with their religious creed,) up to the period when the de-
scendants of L^man, Lemuel, and Sam, who were the three eldest
sons of Lehi, arose and destroyed the descendants of Nephi, who
was the youngest son. From this period, the descendants of the
eldest sons ' dwindled in unbelief,' and *• became a dark, loathsome,
and filthy people.' The last-mentioned are our present Indians.

10

110 HISTORY OF TBE SAINTS.

^* The plates above mentioned remained in their depositoiy until
about the year 1825, when, as the Mormona say, they were found
by Joseph Smith, Jr., who was directed in the discovery by the
Angel of the Lord. On these plates were certain hieroglyphics, said
to be of the Egyptian character, which Smith, by tlie direction of
God, being instructed by inspiration, as to their meaning, proceeded
to translate. This translation is the work which I propose now to
examine.

'^ It will be here proper to remark, that a narrative so eztraordinai^
as that contained in the Book of Mormon, translated from hiero-
glyphics, of which even the most learned have but a limited knowl-
edge, and tiiat, too, by an ignorant youth, who pretended to no other
knowledge of the characters, than what he derived from inspiration,
requires more than ordinary evidojice to substantiate it. It will be
my purpose therefore, in the remainder of this chapter, to inquire
into the nature and degree of testimonv which has been given to
the world, to substantiate the claims of this extraordinary book.

*^ In the first place, the existence of the plates themselves has, ever
since their alleged discovery, been in dispute. To this point it would
be extremely easy to ^ive some proof, by making an exhibition of
them to the world. If they are so ancient as they are claimed to
be, and designed for the purpose of transmitting the history of a
people, and if they have laid for ages, deposited m the earth, their
appearance would certainly indicate the fact. What evidence, then,
have we of the existence of these plates ? Why, none other than
the mere^ dictum of Smith himself, and the certificates of eleven oth-
er individuals, who say that they have seen them ; and upon this
testimony we are required to believe this most extraordinary narra-
tive, and are threatened with eternal punishment for not believing it.

" Now, even admitting, for the sake of argument, that these wit-
nesses are all honest and credible men, yet what would be easier
than for Smitli to deceive them ? Could he not easily procure plates
to be made, and inscribe thereon a set of characters, no matter
what, and then exhibit them to his intended witnesses as genuine ?
What would be easier than thus to impose on their credulity and
weakness ? And if it were necessary to give them the appearance «
of antiquity, a chemical process could easily effect the matter.
But I do not admit that these witnesses were honest; for six of
them, after having made the attestation to the world that they had
seen the plates, lefl the Church ; thus contradicting that to which
they had certified. And one of these witnesses, Martin Harris,
who is frequently mentioned in the Book of Covenants — who was
a High Priest of*^the Church — who was one of the most infatuated
of Smith's followers — who even gave his property in order to pro-
cure the publication of the Book of Mormon, having aflerwards left
the Church, Smith, in speaking of him in connection with others,
said that they were so far beneath contempt, that a notice of them
would be too great a sacrifice for a gentleman to make.

^* But what reason docs Smith give for not exhibiting the plates to
the world ? The onlv reason that 1 have ever heard, is, mat God
has forbidden him ; but at the same time directed th&t he should

THE BOOK OF MORMON. Ill

•how tliem to the eleven witnesses ahove spoken of. Now, the
foreknowledge of God has never been denied ; and is it to be pre-
sumed that Sie Almighty would direct Smith to exhibit the plates to
men whom he knew would prove traitors ? and more especially to
so contemptiMe a man as Harris is described to be ? If these plates
are of divine origin, the witnesses to then;i must be considered as
the witnesses of God ; but what idea could be more ridiculous, than
to suppose that six, out of eleven witnesses, chosen by tlie Almighty,
for his own purpose, should prove recreant ? Yet this is not more
absurd, than to suppose God would require mankind to believe a
matter so out of the ordinary course of nature, as are many things
recorded in the Book of Mormon, from the simple attestation of
eleven men. How difierent, in this respect, is Mormonism from
Christianity ! Did Christ exhibit the evidence of his Divinity be-
fore his twelve apostles onlv? No! nearly every miracle that is
recorded was performed in the presence of great multitudes. Did '
he euik mankind to believe that his mission was from above, merely
because his twelve apostles said that they had evidence of it? No!
but he exhibited the proof wherever he went, and gave such clear
and incontestable evidence of its nature, even in the presence of his
enemies, that they were every where confounded. Now, is it prob-
able that God, in one age of the world, should give such convincing
proof of the truth of his word, and in another age, require us to be-
lieve on the mere ijfse dixit of but eleven men, and the moral char-
acters of these equivocal, to say the best of them, and according to
the general evidence, very bad .''

*'But admitting the plates to exist, and that they have certain
hieroglyphics inscribed upon them, yet how are we to know that
the Book of Mormon is a correct translation f Smith, at the time
of the alleged translation, was a young man, totally ignorant of any
language, except his mother tongue. There is no way, therefore,
m which he could have arrived at a correct translation of the plates,
unless by the aid of divine inspiration : indeed, the first certificate
attached to the Book of Mormon, avers that it was translated * by
the gift and power of God.' Now, the first evidence to show that
they really were translated by the * gift and power of God,' would
be to show that the book is a correct translation of the plates.
This could easily be done, by submitting the plates to the inspec-
tion of learned men, and procuring their attestation to the fact.
Has this ever been done ? Not one of the men to whom the plates
were alleged to have been shown, possessed any knowledge of the
language in which they were said to have been written. How,
then, could they tell whether the book was a correct translation ?
Why, only by the same means that Smith professed to translate it,
— namely, by inspiration. Indeed, Oliver Cowdery, David Whit-
mer, and Martin Harris, in the first certificate attached to the Book
of Mormon, claim to be inspired. Speaking of the translation, they
say, ' It is marvellous in our eyes ; nevertheless, the voice of the
Lord eorrvmanded tLS that we should bear record of it.* Here it will
be observed, that l^ere are a number of men, all professing to be
inspired, and they are the only evidence of each other's inspiration.

112 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

Does this not look like collusion ? Smith says, * 1 am inspired/ and
these men sa^, ' We believe it, for we have the evidence of its
truth, by inspiration.' This is something like thieves proving each''
other honest men.

" A further remark here. There are two certificates attached to
the Book of Mormon ; the second of which is signed by eight wit-
nesses. Now, this certificate does not say one word about me book
beinff translated through the aid of inspiration ; it simply avers that
Smim is the translator. The only evidence, therefi)re, which we
have that Smith translated the book by the aid of inspiration, is the
first certificate, signed by Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, and Da-
vid Whitmer. Now, as to Harris, by Smith's own showing, he ifi
too contemptible to be noticed by a gentleman; therefore we will
lay him on the shelf. The other two, Cowdery and Whitmer, left
the Church, renounced Mormonism, and contradicted what they had
certified. Here, then, are but three witnesses on all the Mormon
records, to prove Smith's inspiration, one of which is too contempti-
ble to notice, and the others have discredited themselves.

*^ Some of the Mormons have said (I know not whether it comes
from the heads of the Church) that a copy of the plates was pre-
sented to Professor Anthon, a gentleman standing in the first rank
as a classical scholar, and he attested to the faithfulness of the trans-
lation of the Book of Mormon. Now, let us hear what the Professor
himself has to say of this matter. In a letter recently written by
him to the Rev. "r. W. Coit, of New Rochelle, N. Y., he professes
to make a plain statement of all he knows of the Mormons. In this
letter he says, —

** * Many years ago, — the precise date I do not now recollect, — a
plain-looking countryman called upon me with a letter from Dr. Sam-
uel L. Mitchell, requesting me to examine, and give my opinion upon
a certain paper, marked with various characters, which the Doctor
confessed he could not decipher, and which the bearer of the note
was very anxious to have explained. A very brief examination of
the paper, convinced me that it was a mere hoaxj and a very clumsy
one too. The characters were arranged in columqs, like the Chinese
mode of writing, and presented the most singular medley that I had
ever beheld. Greek, Hebrew, and all sorts of letters, more or less
distorted, either through unskilfulness or from actual design, were
intermingled with sundry delineations of half moons, stars, and other
natural objects, and the whole ended in a rude representation of the
Mexican zodiac. The conclusion was irresistible, that some cun-
ning fellow had prepared the paper in question for the purpose of
imposing upon the countryman who brought it, and I told the man so
without any hesitation. He then proceeded to give me the history
of the whole affair, which convinced me that he had fallen into the
hands of some sharper, while it left me in great astonishment at his
own simplicity.'

^* He also states ^at he gave his opinion in writing to this man,
that * the marks en the paper appeared to be merely an imitation of
various alphabetic characters and had no meaning at all connected
with them.'

THE BOOK OF MOBMON. 113

ThO'i^ain-lookingr countryman referred to, the Professor states,
he believes to have been no other than the Prophet Smith himself;
but the probability is, that it was Martin Harris. Here, then, is a
beautiful illustration of what Mormonism really is — a mere koax^
designed to take advanta|[e of the gullibility of mankind, and thus to
aggrandize its author and his coadjutors.

^ The only evidence that has ever been received to prove the
inspiration of an individual, is this, — that he possessed the power to
work miracles ; in other words, to do some act impossible, according^
to the established laws of nature. Now, has Smith ever performed '
an act of this description ? True, if he establishes the fact incon-
trovertibly, that he discovered plates on which were engraved cer-
tain characters in the Egyptian, or any other ancient language,
and that he, being unlettered, made a correct translation of them, —
this indeed would be a miracle. But neither of these facts is es-
tablished ; not even by the slightest testimony. For the certificates
of the witnesses do not state where, or how, Smith obtained the
plates, but simply that an Angel came from heaven, and brought,
and laid the plates before their (the witnesses*) eyes, that they * be-
held and saw the plates, and the eneraviners thereon.' There is,
then, no evidence of where Smith obtained the plates, except his
own dicta ; neither is there any evidence of the nature of the char-
acters alleged to have been written thereon.

" As for any other miracles, although I have heard of Smith's
having performed such, yet, until he appears before a multitude,
every opportunity being given for detecting fraud, and performs an
act that could not be done without suspending the ordinary laws of
nature, no credence can be given to the statements of bigoted and
interested persons. His miracles must be performed as were those
of Christ, — in the presence of thousands, and before the eyes of his
enemies. Can he heal the sick ? if so, why, when he is himself
sick, does he take ordinary medicines for relief? Can he prevent
death ? Why, then, are his nearest relations and most useful friends
suffered to die in the vigor of manhood ?

" I have now examined the sum total of the external evidence
which has ever been given to prove the truth of the Book of Mor-
mon. True, numerous passages of, Scripture are quoted, and, by
forced constructions, are made to have reference to this book , but
a fair interpretation will always show the fallacy of all arguments
that can be drawn from this source. With the same propriety that
quotations are made to prove the truth of Mormonism, they can be
made to prove it a horn of the great beast referred to by John.
Equally futile with the last, is the attempt of some to corroborate
the narrative of the book, by producing fkcts to prove that this
continent was once inhabited by a civilized race. This on^ly shows
that the author of the book had a knowledge of that fact, and wrote
it in reference thereto.

*^I cannot better close this chapter, than by giving an extract
from a revelation to Smith, which will show what idea he has of
inspiration. It appears that Oliver Cowdery, who was appointed
to assist Smith in translating the plates, finding that he was but

10*

114 HISTORY OF the: saii^ts.

little aided by inspiration, complained of the fact; and Smith, for his
encouragement, received the following revelation, which will be
found in the Book of Covenants, page 162, and reads thus: — ' Be
patient, my son, for it is wisdom in me, and it is not expedient that
you should translate at this present time. Behold, the work which
you are called to do, is to write for my servant Joseph, and behold,
it is because that you did not continue as you commenced, when you
began to translate, that I have taken away this privilege from you ;
do not murmur, my son, for it is wisdom in me, that I have dealt
with you after this manner. Behold, you have not understood ;
you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no
thought, save it was to ask me ; but, behold, I say unto you, thai
you must study it out in your ottm mind ; then you must ask meifit be
right; and if it be right, I will cause that your bosom shall burn
within you ; therefore you shall feel that it is right; but if it be not
riffht, you shall have no such feelings ; but you shall have a stupor
of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong.'
Here is inspiration, with a vengeance ! *■ Study it out in your own
mind ! ' no matter what it is ! make the most plausible story that you
can, and then, ah ! then, you must come and * ask me if it be right.'
Is this any thing like to the inspiration spoken of in the Bible f
Does it bear any analogy to the voice of Grod speaking to Abraham,
when the burning coals, &«., passed between me parts of the sacri-
fice, at eventide ; or to the burning bush of Moses ; or the terrific
grandeur of Sinai, when, in the presence of millions, the mountain
shook, and burned with fire, and the trumpet waxed louder and
louder, until Moses said, * I exceedingly fear and quake ' ?

" Now, it will here be observed, that the translators of the Book
of Mormon, by their own showing, were not under inspiration at the
time of writing the translations. How, then, in the name of com-
mon sense, would a set of unlettered men, who could scarcely write
their own language, and who were totally innocent of a knowledge
of any other, proceed to make a translation of Egyptian hieroglyph-
ics ? We are told that they must ' study it out in their own minds/
without assistance from God.; and after they had imagined what the
characters meant, then the inspiration should come. Here, then, is
direct evidence from Smith himself of what the Book of Mormon
really is — namely, a mere fiction, conjured up from the brains of
Smith, or his coadjutors, and designed for nothing else than to gull
mankind, and to aggrandize themselves.

** One remark further. We are asked, if Smith was an unlettered
youth, is not the fact of his producing a work such as the Book of
Mormon, a proof of inspiration. I answer, that the style and matter
of the book is nothing superior ; but ddmitting that it was more than
a youth like Smith could produce, is it not well known that he had
coadjutors of acknowledged talents — fully ample to produce such a
work ? more especially as, in style and matter, it is written in imita-
tion of the Scriptures ? Some have intimated, however, that the
book was obtained by Smith surreptitiously, from the executors of a
man who had written it as a religious romance, and altered it to suit
his own purposes."

Mormonism Portrayed^ by William Harris^ pp. 4 — 10.

THE BOOK OF MORMON. 115

F)rom Mormonism Unveiled^ hy E» D, Howt^ pp. 278 — ^290.

** We think that facts and data have been elicited, sufficient, at
least, to raise a strong presumption that the l€lading features of the
* Grold Bible ' were first conceived and concocted by one Solomon
Spalding, while a resident of Conneaut, Ashtabula county, Ohio.
It is admitted by our soundest jurists, that a train of circumstances
may often lead the mind to a more satisfactory and unerring conclu-
sion, than positive testimony, unsupported by circumstantial evi-
dence — for the plain reason, that the one species of testimony is
more prone to falsehood than the other. But we proceed with our
testimony.

" The first witness is Mr. John SpaltUng, a brother of Solomon,
now a resident of Crawford county, jra., who says, —

" Solomon Spalding was born in Ashford, Conn., in 1761, and in
early life contracted a taste for literary pursuits. After he left school,
he entered Plainfield Academy, where he made great proficiency in
study, and excelled most of his classmates. He next commenced
the study of law, in Windham county, in which he made little
proorress, having in the mean time turned his attention to religious
subjects. He soon aft^r entered Dartmouth College, with the inten-
tion of qualifying himself for the ministry, where he obtained the de-
cree of A. M., and was afterwards regularly ordained. After preach-
ing three or four years, he gave it up, removed to Cherry Valley,
N. T., and commenced the mercantile business, in company with his
brother Josiah. In a few years, he failed in business, and in the
year 1809 removed to Conneaut, in Ohio. T^e year following, I re-
moved to Ohio, and found him engaged in building a forge. I made
him a visit in about three years after, and found that he had failed,
and was considerably involved in debt. He then told me he had
been writing a book, which he intended to have printed, the avails
of which he thought would enable him to pay ail his debts. The
book was entitled me ' Manuscript Found,' of which he read to me
many passages. It was an historical romance of the first settlers of
America, endeavoring to show that the American Indians are the de-
scendants of the Jews, or the lost tribes. It gave a detailed account
of their journey from Jerusalem, by land and sea, till they arrived in
America, under the command of NEPHI and LEHI. They after-
wards had quarrels and contentions, and separated into two distinct
nations, one of which he denominated Nephites, and the other La-
manites. Cruel and bloody wars ensued, in which great multitudes
were slain. They buried their dead in large heaps, which caused
the mounds so common in this country. Their arts, sciences, and
civilization, were brought into view, in order to account for all the
curious antiquities, found in various parts of North and South Amer-
ica. I have recently read the Book of Mormon, and to my great
surprise' I find nearly the same historical matter, names, &c., as they
were in my brother's writings. I well remember that he wrote in
the old style, and commenced about every sentence with * And it
came to pass,' or *■ Now it came to pass,' the same as in the Book
of Mormon, and according to the best of my recollection and belief,
i^ is the same as my brother Solomon wrote, with the exception of

116 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

ft

the reliffiouB matter. By what means it has fallen into the hands of
Joseph Smith, Jr., I am unable to determine. John Spaldikg.

^' Martha Spalding, the wife of John Spalding, says, —

^' I was personally acquainted with Solomon Spalding, about
twenty years ago. I was at his house a short time befpre he left
Gonneaut ', he was then writing an historical novel founded upon the
first settlers of America. He represented them as an enlightened
and warlike people. He had for many years contended that the ab-
origines of America were the descendants of some of the lost tribes
of Israel, and this idea he carried out in the book in question. The
lapse of time which has intervened, prevents my recollecting but few
of the leading incidents of his writings ; but the names of Nephi and
Lehi are yet fresh in my memory, as being the principal heroes of
his tale. They were officers of the company which first came off
from Jerusalem. He gave a particular accoimt of their journey by
land and sea, lill they arrived in America, after which, disputes arose
between the chiefs, which caused them to separate into different
bands, one of which was called Lamanites, and the other Nephites.
Between these were recounted tremendous battles, which frequently
covered the ground with the slain ; and their being buried in large
heaps was the cause of the numerous mounds in the country,. Some
of these people he represented as being very large. I have read the
Book of Mormon, which has brought fresh to my recollection the
writings of Solomon Spalding ; and I have no manner of doubt that
the historical part of it is the same that I read and heard read more
than twenty years ago.' The old, obsolete style, and the phrases of
*and it came to pass,' &c., are the same. Martha Spalding.

"We would here remark, by the way, that it would appear that
Sol. Spalding, like many other authors, was somewhat vam of his
writings, and was constantly showing and reading them to his neigh-
bors. In this way most of his intimate acquaintances became con.
versant at that time with his writing and designs. We might there-
fore introduce a great nimiber of witnesses, all testifying to the same
general facts ; but we have not taken the trouble to procure the
statements of but few, all of whom are the most respectable men, and
highly esteemed for their moral worth, and their characters for truth
and veracity are unimpeachable. In fact, the wcMrd of an^r one of
them would have more weight in any respectable community, than
the whole family of Smiths and Whitmers, who have told about
hearing the voice of an angel.

" Co!«NE&UT, Aslitabula Co., Ohio, SepUmbery 1833.
** I lefl the State of New York, late in the year 1810, and arrived
at this place, about the first of January following. Soon afler my
arrival, I formed a copartnership with Solomon Spalding, for the

gurpose of rebuilding a forffe which he had commenced a year or two
efore. He verj^ frequently read to me from a manuscript which he
was writing, which be entitled tlie * Manuscript Found, and which

THE BOOK OF MOBMON, 117

he lepiesented as being found in this town. I spent many hours in
hearing him read said writings, and became well acquainted with its
contents. He wished me to assist him in getting his production
printed, alleging that a book of that kind would meet with a rapid
sale. I designed doing so, but the forge not meeting our anticipa^
tions, we failed in business, when I declined having any thing to do
with the publication of the book. This book represented the Amer-
ican Indians as the descendants of the lost tribes, gave an account
of their leaving Jerusalem, their contentions and wars, which were
many and sreat. One time, when he was reading to me the tragic
account of Laban, I pointed out to him what I considered an incon*
sistency, which he promised to correct ; but bv referring to the Book
of Mormon,'! find, to my surprise, that it stands there just as he read
it to me then. Some months ago, I borrowed the Golden Bible, put
it into my pocket, carried it home, and thought no more of it. About
a week after, my wife found the book in my coat pocket, as it hung
up, and commenced reading it aloud as I lay upon the bed. She
had not read twenty minutes, till I was astonished to find the same
passages in it that Spalding had read to me more than twenty years
before, from his * Manuscript Found.' Since that, I have more fully
examined the said Golden Bible, and have no hesitation in saying
that the historicalpart of it is principally, if not wholly, taken bom
the * Manuscript Found.' I well recollect telling Mr. Spalding that
the so frequent use of the words * And it came to pass,' ' Now it
came to pass,' rendered it ridiculous. Spalding left here in 181S,
and I furnished him the means to carry him to Pittsburgh, where he
said he would get the book printed, and pay me. But I never heard
any more from him or his writings, tiU 1 saw them in the Book of
Mormon. Henry Lake.

"Sprinofibld, Pa., September, 1833.

'* In the year 1811, 1 was in the emjiloy of Henry Lake and Solo-
mon Spalding, at Conneaut, engaged in rebuilding a forge. While
there, I boarded and lodged in vae family of said Spalding, for seve-
ral months. I was sooil introduced to the manuscripts of Spalding,
and perused them, as oflen as I had leisure. He had written two
or three books or pamphlets on different subjects ; but that which
more particularly drew my attention, was one which he called the
^ Manuscript Found.' From this he would frequently read some hu-
morous passages to the company present. It purported to be the-
history of the first settlement oi America, before discovered by Colum-
bus. He brought them off from Jerusalem, under their leaders ; de-
tailing their travels by land and water, their manners, customs, laws,
wars, &c. He said that he designed it as an historical novel, and
that in afler years it woidd be believed by many people as much as
the history of England. He soon after failed in business, and told
me he should retire from the din of his creditors, finish his book and
have it published, which would enable him to pay his debts and sup-
port his family. He soon after removed to Pittsburgh, as I under-
stood.

" I have recently examined the Book of Mormon, and find in it
the i^itings of Solomon Spalding, firom beginning to end, but mixed

118 HISTORY OF THE SAfNTS.

uj) with Scripture and other religious matter, which 1 did not meet
with in the 'Manuscript Found.' Many of the passages in the Mor-
mon book are verbatim from Spalding, and others in part. The
names of Nephi, Lehi, Moroni, and in fact all the principal names,
are brought fresh to my recoUection, by the Gold Bible. When
Spalding divested his history of its fabulous names, by a verbal ex-
planation, he landed his people near the Straits of Darien, which I
am very confident he called Zarahemla; they were marched about
that country for a length of time, in which wars and great bloodshed
ensued ; he brought Uiem across North America in a north-east di-
rection. John N. Mii.l£r.

"CONNEAUT, JlUgUSt, 1833.

*' I first became acquainted with Solomon Spaldinff in 1808 or '9,
when he commenced building a forge on Conneaut Creek. When
at his house, one day, he showed and read to me a histcnry he was
writing, of the lost tribes of Israel, purporting that they were the
first settlers of America, and that the Indians were their descend-
ants. Upon this subject we had frequent conversations. He traced
their journey from Jerusalem to America, as it is given in the Book
cdf Mormon, excepting the religious matter. The nistorical part of
the Book of Mormon I know to be the same as I read and heard
read from the writing of Spalding, more than twenty years afo ;
the names, more especially, are the same, without any alteration. He
told me his object was to account for all the fortifications, &c., to be
found in this country, and said that in time it would be fully be-
lieved by all, except learned men and historians. I once anticipated
reading his writings in print, but little expected to see them in a
new Bible. Spaldmg- had many other manuscripts, which I expect
to see when Smith translates his other plate. In conclusion, I will
observe, that the names of, and most of the historical part of the
Book of Mormon, were as familiar to me before I read it, as most
modem historjr. If it is not Spalding's writing, it is tbe same as he
wrote ; and if'^ Smith was inspired, I think it was by the same spirit
that Spalding was, which he confessed to be the love of money.

"Aaron Wright.

" CoNlfEAUT, Augusty 1833.

" Whep Solomon Spalding first came to this place, he purchased
a tract of land, surveyed it out, and commenced selling it. While
engaged in this business, he boarded at my house, in all nearly six
monms. All his leisure hours were occupied in writing an historical
novel, founded upon the first settlers of this country. He said he
intended to trace their journey from Jerusalem, by land and sea, till
their arrival in America ; give an account of tneir arts, sciences,
civilization, wars, and contentions. In this way, he would give a
satisfactory account of all of the old mounds, so common to this
country. During the time he was at my house, I read and heard
read one hundred pages or more. Nephi and Lehi were by him
represented as leading characters, when they first started for Amer-
ica. Their main object was to escape the judgments which they
supposed were coming upon the old world. But no religious matter

THB BOOK OF MOBMON. 119

was introduced, as I now recollect. Just before be left this place,
Spalding sent for me to call on him, which I did. He then said,
that although he was in my debt, he intended to leave the country,
and hoped I would not prevent him. For, says he, you know I
have been writing the hutory of the first settlement of America,
and X intend to 20 to Pittsburgh, and there live a retired life,
till I have completed the work, and when it is printed, it will
bring me a fine sum of money, which will enable me to return
and pay off all my debts. The book, you know, will sell, as every
one is anxious to learn something upon that subject. This was
the last I heard of Spalding or his book, until the Book of Mormon
came into the neighborhood. When I heard the historical part of
it related, I at once said it was the writings of old Solomon Spald-
ing. Soon after, I obtained the book, and on reading it, found much
of it the same as Spalding had written, more than twenty years
before. Oliver Smith.

" COIVKBAUT, jSugust, 1833.

*< I first became acquainted with Solomon Spalding, in Dec, 1810.
After that time, I frequently saw him at his house, and also at my
house. I once, in conversation with him, expressed a surprise at not
having any account of the inhabitants once in this country, who
erected the old forts, mounds, &c. He then told me that he was
writing a history of that race of people ; and afterwards frequently
showed me his writings, which I read. 1 have lately read the Book
of Mormon, and believe it to be the same as Spalding wrote, except
the religious part. He told me that he intended to get his writings
published in Pittsburgh, and he thought that in one century from
that time, it would be believed as much as any other history.

^^Nahum Howard.

^* Artemas Cunningham, of Perry, Geauga county, states as follows :

''In the month of October, 1811, 1 went from the township of
Madison to Conneaut, for the purpose of securing a debt due me
from Solomon Spalding. I tarried with him nearly two days, for
the purpose of accomplishing my object, which I was finally unable
to do. I found him destitute of the means of paying his debts.
His only hope of ever paying his debts, appeared to he upon the
sale of a book, which he had been writing. He endeavored to
convince me, from the nature and character of the work, that it
would meet with a ready sale. Before showing me his manuscripts,
he went into a verbal relation of its outlines, saying that it was a
fabulous or romantic history of the first settlement of this country,
and as it purported to have been a record found buried in the earth,
or in a cave, he had adopted the ancient or Scripture style of writ-
ing. He then presented his manuscripts, when we sat down, and
spent a good snare of the night in reading them, and conversing
upon them. I well remember the name of Nephi, which appeared
to be the principal hero of the story. The frequent repetition of the
phrase, *■ 1 Nephi,' I recollect as distincUy as though it was butyes-
terday, although the general features of the story nave passed m>m

120 HISTORlr OF THE SAINTS.

my memory, througrh the lapse of twenty-two years. He attempted
to account for the numerous antiquities which are found upon this
continent^ and remarked that, afler this generation had passed away,
his account of the first inhabitants of America would be considered
as authentic as any other history. The Mormon Bible I have par-
tially examined, and am fully of the opinion that Solomon Spald-
ing had written its outlines before he lefl Conneaut. ,

** Statements of the same import might be multiplied to an in-
definite length ; but we deem it unnecessary. We are here willing
to rest the question in the hands of any intelligent jury, with a cer-
tainty that their verdict would be, that Solomon Spalding first wrote
the leading incidents of the Book of Mormon, instead of its being
found by the Smith family, while digging for gold, and its contento
afterwards made known by the Supreme Being.

" But our inquiries did not terminate here. Our next object was
to ascertain, if possible, the disposition Spalding made of his man-
uscripts. For this purpose, a messenger was despatched to l6ok up
the widow of Spalding, who was found residing in Massachusetts.
From her we learned that Spalding resided in Pittsburgh about two
years, when he removed to the township of Amity, ^Vashington
county, Pennsylvania, where he lived about two years, and died in
1816. His widow then removed to Onondaga county. New York,
married again, and lived in Otsego county, and subsequently re-
moved to Massachusetts. She states that Spalding had a areat
variety of manuscripts, and recollects that one was entitled the
* Manuscript Found ; ' but of its contents she has now no distinct
knowledge. While they lived in Pittsburgh, she thinks it was once
taken to the printing-office of Patterson and Lamhdzn; but whether
it was ever brought back to the house again, she is quite uncertain :
if it was, however, it was then, with his other writinsrs, in a trunk
which she had left in Otsego county, New York. This is all the
information that could be obtained from her, except that Mr.
Spalding, while living, entertained a strong antipathy to the Ma-
sonic Institution, which may account for its being so frequently
mentioned in the Book of Mormon. The fact, also, that Spalding,
in the latter part of his life, inclined to infidelity, is established by a
letter in his hand- writing, now in our possession •

'* The trunk referred to by the widow, was subsequently examined,
and found to contain only a single MS. book, in Spalding's hand-
writing, containing about one quire of paper. This is a romance,
purporting to have been translated from the Latin, found on twenty-
four rolls of parchment, in a cave, on the banks of Conneaut Creek,
but written in modern style, aiid giving a fabulous account of a
ship's being driven upon the American coast, while proceeding from
Rome to Britain, a short time pievious to the Christian era, this
country then being inhabited by the Indians. This old MS. has
been shown to several of the foregoingr witnesses, who recognize it
as Spalding's, he having told them that he had altered his first plan
of writing, by going farther back with dates, and writing in the old
Scripture style, in order that it might appear more ancient. They
Bay that it bean no resemblance to the * Manuscript Found,*

" Here, then, our inquiries after facts partially cease, on this

THE BOOK OF MOBIION. 121

subject. We have fully shown that the Book of Mormon is the
join I production of Solomon Spalding and some other designing
knave, or, if it is what it purports to be, the Lord God has graciously
condescended, in revealing to Smith his will, through spectacles, to
plj.ce before him, and appropriate to his own use, the writings and
names of men which had been invented by a person long before in
the grave. Having established the fact, th^efore, that most of the
names and leading incidents contained in the Mormon Bible,
originated with Solomon Spalding, it is not very material, as we
conceive, to show the way and manner by which they fell into the
hands of the Smith family. To do this, however, we have made
some inquiries.

'^ It was inferred at once that some light might be shed upon this
subject, and the mystery revealed, by applymgr to Patterson and
Lambdin, in Pittsburgh. But here again death had mterposed a
barrier. That establishment was dissolved and broken up many years
since, and Lambdin died about eight years ago. Mr. Patterson says
he has no recollection of any such manuscript bein^ brought there
for publication, neither would he have been likely to nave seen it, as
the business of printing was conducted wholly by Lambdin at that
time. He says, however, that many MS. books and pamphlets were
brought to the odice about that time, which remained upon their
shelves for years, without being printed or even examined. Now,
as Spalding's book can nowhere be found, or any thing heard of it
afler being carried to this establishment, there is the strongest pre-
sumption that it remained there in seclusion till about the year ld23
or '24, at which time Sidney Rigdon located himself in that city.
We have been credibly informed that he was on terms of intimacy
with Lambdin, being seen frequently in his shop. Rigdon resided
in Pittsburgh about three years, and during the whole of that time,
as he has since frequently asserted, abandoned preaching and all
other employment, for the purpose of studying the Bible. He left
there, and came into the county where he now resides, about the
time Lambdin died, and commenced preaching some new points of
doctrine, which were afterwards found to be inculcated in the Mor
mon Bible. He resided in this vicinity about four years previous to
the appearance of the book, during which time he made several long
visits to Pittsburgh, and perhaps to the Susquehannah, where Smith
was then digging for money, or pretending to be translating plates.
It may be observed also, that about the time Rigdon left Pittsburgh,
the Smith family began to tell about finding a book that would con-
tain a history of the first inhabitants of America, and that two years
elapsed before they finally got possession of it.

" We are, then, irresistibly led to this conclusion — that Lamb-
din, after having tailed m business, had recourse to the old manu-
scripts then in his possession, in order to raise the. loind, by a book
speculation, and placed the ' Manuscript Found,' of Spalding, in the
hands of Rigdon, to be embellished, altered, and added to, as he
might think expedient ; and three years' study of the Bible, we
should deem little time enough to garble it, as it is transferred to
the Mormon book. The former, dying, left the latter the sole pro-

u

12S HISTORY OF THfi SAIKTS.

prietor, who was obliged to resort to his wits, and in a miraculous
way, to bring it before the world ; for in no other manner could such
a buck be published without great sacrifice. And where could a
more suitable character be found than Joe Siuith, whose necro-
mantic fame and arts of deception had already extended to a con-
siderable distance ? That Lambdin was a person every way qualiiied
and fitted for such an> enterprise, we have the testimony of his
partner in business, and others of his acquaintance. Add to all
these circumstances the facts that lligdon had prepared the minds,
in a ^reat measure, of nearly a hundred of those who had attended
his ministration, to be in readiness to embruce the first mysterious
ism that should be presented ; the appearance of Cowdery at his
residence as soon as the book was printed ; his sudden conversion,
after many pretensions to disbelieve it; his immediately repairing
to the residence of Smith, three hundred miles distant, where he
was fortliwith appointed an elder, high-priest, and a scribe to the
Propliet ; the pretended vision that his residence in Ohio was the
* promised land ; * the immediate removal of the whole Smith family
thither, where they were soon raised from a state of poverty to com-
parative affluence. We, therefore, must hold out Sidney Kigdon to
the world ms being the original ^author and proprietor ' of the whole
Mormon conspiracy, until further light is elicited upon the lost
writings of Solomon Spalding."'

Momumisni Unveiledj by E. D. Hotoe, pp. 278 — 290.

Bev. J. M T. Tucker's Statement.

MORMONISM SOME CURIOUS FACTS.

" Messrs. Editors :

" Havincr noticed in a late number of the Sicms of the
Times, a notice of a work, entitled Mormon Delusions and Mon-
strosities, it occurred to me that it might, perhaps, be of service to
the cause of truth, to state one circumstance in relation to the
authenticity of the Book of Mi)rmon, wiiich occurred during its
publication, at which time I was a practical printer, and engaged in
the office where it was printed, and became familiar with the men
and their principles, through whose agency it was *got up.*

*' The circumstance alluded to was as Ibllows : — We had heard
much said by Martin Harris, the man who paid for the printing,
and the only one in the concern worth any property, about the won-
derful wisdom of the translators of the mysterious plates, and re-
solved to test their wisdom. Accordingly, after putting one- sheet
in type, we laid it aside, and told Harris it was lost, and there would
be a serious defection in the book in consequence, unless another
sheet like the original could be produced. The announcement
threw the old gentleman into quite an excitement. But after a few
moiuents* reflection, he said he would try to obtain another. After
two or three weeks, another sheet was produced, but no more like
the original than any other sheet of paper would have been, written
over by a common schoolboy, after having read, as they did, the
manuscripts preceding and succeeding the Io3t sheet.

THE BOOK or MORMON. 128

<i

As might be expected, the disclosare of the plan greatly annoyed
the authors, and caused no little merriment among those who were
acquainted with the circumstance. As we were none of us Chris-
tians, and only labored for the * gold that peiisheth,' we did nut
care for the delusiorl, only so far as to be careful to avoid it our-
Bflved, and enjoy the hoax JS'ot one of the hands in tiie otHce
where the wouderlul book was printed, ever became a convert to
the system, although the writer of this was otlen assured by Harris,
if he did not, he would be destroyed in 183:2.

*' I am well acquainted with tht; two gentlemen whose names
appear on pages 5<i, 51, in the work referred to at the head of this
article, and know the certificate above their names to be true. I
have known several instances of the grossest impostures by thetu in
Iheir pretensions of workinor miracles, &c. &g., and am greatly sur-
prised that such a man as Nickers m, of your city, can induce any
ration-il person to follow in his pernicious ways.

**• Mrs. Harris, the wife of Mnrtin Harris, was so familiar with the
monstrous wickedness and folly of her husband, and the trio who
were engaged with htm, that she would not follow him, nor live with
hi.n. H'a conduct was not such as a man of Gt»d would have been.
Afler he had been absent about two years, and frequent reports of
his having power to heal the sick, &c., had reached his neighbor-
hood, he returned, and assured his wife that he xould cure her of
deafness, with which she was afflicted. But as a condition of so
doin^, he required her to put into his hands about $1500 of money
whicn she had managed to secure out of the avails of his property,
which he sold on joining the ' Latter Day Saints ' colony. She assured
him he should have every dollar as soon as her hearing was restored.
But he very wisely replied, he could 'have no evidence of her faith
until she put the cash down ; ' so, of course^ she remained deaf, and
Murtin went back to the * promised land' with pockets as light as
when he came.

** This is, no doubt, one of the great deceptions which should come
upon the people on the eve of the second coming of the Son of Man.
Let the saints of God beware of them. Let no persecution or vio-
lence be opposed to them, but simply an avoidance, and we shall
soon find them without faith.

^^ Yours in the gospel of Christ,

«J. N. T. Tucker.

" Gboton, May 23, 1843."

Signs qftke Times<f June 8, 1843.

I will remark here, in confirniation of the above, that the
Book Nop Mormon was originally written by the Rev. Solo-
mon Spalding, A. M., as a romance, and entitled the " Man-
u.scRiPT Found," and placed by him in the printing-office
of Patterson and Lambdin, in the city of Pittsburg, from
whence it was taken by a conspicuous Mormon divine^ and
RE-MODBLLEDy by adding the religious portion^ placed by

124 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

him in SmitJCs possession, and then published to the world,
as the testimony exemplifies. This I have from the Con-
federation, and of its perfect correctness there is not the
shadoiv of a doubt. There never were any plates of the
Book of Mormon, excepting what were seen by the spirit-
ijxx.y and not the natural, eyes of the witnesses. The story
of the plates is all chimerical.

THE CLAIMS AND ABSURDITIES OF THE BOOK OF

MORMON.

I quote from Harris's work : —

" Probably, in the history of the world, there is not to be fonnd
an instance of more cool impudence, and deliberate blasphemy, .than
is contained in the Book of Mormon. Coming forth, as has been
shown, without one shadow of evidence in its ravor, either circum-
stantial or direct, except what has evidently been manufactured for
the occasion, it claims for itself, or the Mormons claim for it, a rank
and importance excelled by nothing that has gone before.

** In the first place, it is claimed to be a new and everlasting cove-
nant, doing away with all former covenante. This is expressed in a
revelation given to Joseph Smith, Jr., Book of Covenants, pages 91
and 178: ' And this condemnation resteth on the children of Zion»
even all ; and they shall remain under this condemnation until they
repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon.*
* Behold, I say unto you, that all old covenants have been done
away in this thin^, and this is a new and an everlasting covenant.'

" Secondly, it is claimed to be the fulness of the everlasting gos-
pel. Book of Covenants, page 180 : * Behold, this is wisdom in me ;
therefore marvel not, for the hour coraeth, that I will drink of the
fruit of the vine with you, on the earth, and with Moroni, whom I
have sent unto you, to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the
fulness of my everlasting gospel.'

"Thirdly, it claims a pregrainence over the Bible. Book of Mor-
mon,,* page 30, where the Roman church is referred to, as ' having
taken away from the gospel many parts which are plain and most
precious ; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken
away,' &,c. ; and on page 33 yon find that the preference is taken to
itself, in that it professes to make known the *■ plain and precious
things which have been taken away.'

" Here, then, are some of the claims of this truly wonderful book.
The world is informed that all old covenants are done away ; the

1>romises of the Bible, therefore, are void ; and heireafler we must
ook alone for comfort to the Book of Mormon. Not only this, it is

*• The fint edition is referred to.

THE BOOK or MOBMON. 125

the complete gospel; of course the New Testament mus^ be imper
feet. And above all, it corrects the errors in the present translatioa
of the Bible. Wonderful, indeed ! !

" Having given the exhibition of the claims of the Book of Mor-
mon, let us examine some of the absurdities and contradictions to ,
Scripture apparent on the face of it. Tht*se are very numerous, and
to point out the tithe of them would swell this pamphlet far beyond
my design.

*^ On page 65, we have the following : *■ And now behold, if Adam
had not transgressed, he would not have fallen ; but he would have
remained in the garden of Eden. And all thin^ which were cre-
ated, must have remained in the same state which they were after
they were created ; and they must have remained forever, and had
no end. And they would have had no children, wherefore, they
would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for
they knew no misery; doinff no good, for they knew no sin. But
behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth
all things. AdaAi fell, that men might be ; and men are, that they
mi /ht have joy.'

^* Here we have Adam placed in a very sorry dilemma ; for in
Genesis, i. ^, he is commanded to 'be fruitful, and multiply, and
replenish the earth;' and in chapter ii. 17, he is commanded not to
' eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.' But, according to
the Book of Mormon, had Adam not transgressed, he would have
had no children. If this be correct, Adam was obliged to transgress
the second command, above mentioned, that is, eat the fruit for-
bidden, in order that he might obey the first commandment, to mul-
tiply and replenish the earth. Was ever a contradiction made more
glaring ? The truth of the Bible must be denied, or else the Book
of Mormon is untrue.

'^ But further : the passa^ says that our first parents * had no joy,
f4»r they knew no misery ; ' m other words, they were in a state of per-
fect neutrality, and incapable of enjoyment. If this be true, why did
God plant the garden of Eden, and cause in it to grow every tree
that IS pleasant to the sight, and good for food ? And why did lie
place Adam in the garden to dress it and to keep it ? Why, lask, did
God place man in such a perfect Paradise, surrounded by every
thinflr to produce enjoyment, and nothing to disturb it, and yet not
confer on him the power of enjoyment.^ Such nonsense is too
trivial for argument.

" But further : the passage says, * Adam did no good, for he knew
no sin.' According to this, there can be no good done without sin.
The angels, there&re, who sin not, do no good. But was Adam
doing no good when in a state of purity, obeying the commands of
God ? Is not the rendition of such obedience the very height of
goodness? But if Adam, in a state of innocence, did no good, for
what did God create him.^ The conclusion is inevitable, that he
created him for no purpose at all, or else he created him to sin.
To suppose the former, would make God create man from a mere
whim ; and to suppose the latter^ would make Him, and not the Devil,
the author of sin. In either case, an dbsurdity necessarily follows.

ISiB HISTORlr OF THE SAINTS.

" Here, then, is a short pttssage from this veritable book, contam-
ing nothing but contradiction, nonsense, and absurdity.

"Again, on the same page, (65,^ we find the following: * Where-
fore men are free, according to tne jf«5A, and all things are ^iven
» them which is expedient unto man. And they are free to choose
liberty, and eternal life, through the great mediation of all men.l
Now, what are we to understand from this ? Why, certainly,
nothing more nor less, than that all men are mediators; and if
we obtain liberty and eternal life, at all, it must be through the
mediation of all men. What, then, becomes of the words of the
apostle, in Tim. ii. 5, where he says, there is *one Mediator be-
tween God and man.' Certainly the Book of Mormon, or else St.
Paul, must be wrong.

'* Again, on page 424, the following passage occurs : ' Behold they
(speaking of oaths and covenants) were put into the heart of Gadi-
anton, by that sama^ being who did entice our first parents to partake
of the forbidden fruit; yea, that same being, who did plot with Cain,
that if he would murder his brother Abel, it should not be known
unto the world.' * And he did plot with Cain, and his followers,
from that time forth. And, also, it was that same being, who put it
into the heads of the people, to build a Tower, sufficiently high, that
they might get to heaven. And it was that same being which led
on the people, which came from that tower, into this land.' Now,
here it is positively stated, that the being who tempted Eve, &,c.j
that is, the Devil, was the leader of the Jaredites, or the people
who came from the Tower of Babel, in Babylon, to the American
continent. But, by reference to pages 539 and 540, we will find
the followinff : * And it came to pass, the Lord did hear the brother
of Jared, and he had compassion upon him, and said unto him, so to,
and gather together thy flocks, both male and female, of every kind;
and also, of the seed of the earth, of every kind, and thy families;
and also, Jared, thy brother, and his family ; and also thy friends,
and their families. And when thou hast ddne this, thou shalt go at
the head of them down into the valley which is northward, and
there will I meet thee, and I will go before thee, into a land which
is choice above all the land of the earth.' Here there is a positive
contradiction. These two statements both refer to the same people,
and to the same journey ; in one of which, the Devil is represented
as the leader, and in the other, the Lord. In reading these passages,
one is reminded of the adage — * Liars, to be consistent, should have
good memories.'

" But now for the climax. On page 542, we have a description
of the barges in which all the people, before referred to, crossed the
ocean. It is in these words : * And the Lord said, go to work, and
build afler the manner of barges, which ye have hitherto built.
And it came to pass, that the brother of Jared did go to work, and
also his brethren, and built barges afler the manner which they had
built, according to the instructions of the Lord. And they were
small and they were light upon the water, even unto the lightness
of a fowl, upon the water ; and they were built afler the manner
that they were exceedingly tight, even that they would hold water

THfi BOOK OF MORMON. 127

like unto a dish ; and the sides thereof were tight like unto a dish ;
and the ends were peaked : and the top thereof was tight like unto
a dish ; and the length thereof was the length of a tree ; and the
door thereof, when it was shut, was tight like unto a dish. And it
caine to pass, that the brother of Jareacried unto the Lord, saying :
O Lord, 1 have performed the work which thou hast commanded
me, and I have made the barges according as thou hast directed me.
And, behold, in them there is no light, whither shall we steer ? and
also, we shall perish, for in them we cannot breathe, save it is the air
that is in them ; therefore are we to perish.

" ' And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared, behold thou shalt
make a hole in the top thereof, and also in the bottom thereof, and
when thou shalt suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole thereof, and
receive air.

" * And if it be so that the water come in upon thee, behold ye shall
stop the hole thereof, that ye may not perish in the floods.

" * And it came to pass, that the brother of Jared did so, according
as the Lord had commanded. And he cried again unto the Lord,
saying, O Lord, behold I have done even as thou hast commanded
me, and I have prepared the vessels for mv people, and behold there
is no light in them. Behold, O Lord ! wilt thou suffer that we shall
cross this great water in darkness ? and the Lord said unto the broth-
er of Jared, what will ye that I shall do, that ye may have light in
your vessels ? For behold ye cannot have windows,* for they will
be dashed in pieces ; neither shall ye take fire with vou, for ye shall
not go by the light of the fire ; for, behold, ye shall be as a whale in
the midst of the sea ; for the mountain waves shall dash upon you.
Nevertheless, I will bring vou up again, outof tlie depths of the sea;
for the winds have gone ferth out of my mouth, and also the rains
and the floods have I sent forth.'

** From this description, we learn that the boats were made per-
fectly tight, bottom, top, door, and sides ; and were of the len^h of
a tree. (Very definite ! almost equal to the witness who described a
stone that one man threw at another as being about the size of a
piece of chalk.) But these boats, although made according to the
direction of God himself, appear to have been very deficient; for
they could not exist in them for want of air. (A strange oversight
for God to make.) But the remedy is the ftmniest of all, viz., to
make holes in both the top and bottom. Yet after thev were made,
it appears that they could be of but little use, for the boats were to
be as a whale, sometimes under the water and sometimes on top.
Of course, when they were under the water, they were in as bad a
fix ad ever ; for they had to keep the holes stopped, in order to keep
out the floods. But what did they want with that hole in the bot-
tom ? I was told by a Motmon expounder, that the holes in the top
and bottom were so made on account of the roughness of the pas-
sage — the mountain waves dashing the boats over and over, so tliat
sometimes the top would be uppermost, and sometimes the bottom.

* Query. Wliat kind of windows are here referred to? If of glass, it will be
recollected that Buch were not in use until modern times ; and what other kind
would hare been dtcshed in^pi^cBs ?•

128 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

HeDce the holes were made to suit either case. What an idea!
men, women, children, flocks, bees, &.c. &c., all confined in a tight
vessel, tumbling and rolling ; one moment heads up and the next
down ; and this delightful commingling to last durmg the whole pas-
sage from India to America. What squealing there must have
been ! Truly, this was a perfect shaking together of the elements,
by which the new continent was to be populated.

" But another idea. The brotlier of Jared, after he had finished
the barges, which admitted neither light nor air, asks the Lord
whither he shall steer. It will be remembered tliat the vessels were
perfectly tight ; there were no holes for either oars or rudder, and
no sails, nor could they see any place without the boat, when once
shut up in it ; and yet he asks the Lord to what point he should
steer! Truly, Smith's nautical genius must have been extremely
limited, or he would have told a better yarn than this. But it does
seem that he, in this description, used his utmost endeavors to see
how far he could impose on the gullibility .of mankind.

" It will be useless to make any further comments to prove the
absurdities of this extraordinary book. Enough has been said, al-
ready, to show it to be a perfect humbug. A great number of ot-ier
passages might be quoted, all tending to prove its absurdities; but
the limits prescribed for this book compel me to forbear."

Mormonism Portrayedy pp. 10 — 14.

THE BOOK OF COVENANTS — ITS ABSURDITIES AND

CONTRADICTIONS.

I again quote from Harris's work : —

" The Book of Covenants appears to be regarded by the Mormons
as equal, in point of authority and inspiration, to the Bible. It con-
tains, firstly, hii exposition of the doctrines of the Church ; and
secondly, a number of revelations, given to Joseph Smith, Jr., and
others, either explanatory of the Scriptures, or directory of the man-
ner of governing the Church, both in things temporal and spiritual.
Like tlie Book of Mormon, there appear on its face many absurdi-
ties and contradictions to Scripture, which it may be important, for
the object of this work, for one moment to examine.

" On page 7, Heb. chapter xi. verse 3, is quoted thus : * Through
faith, we understand, that the worlds were formed by the word of
* God ; so that things which are seen, were not made of things which
do appear.' On tliis passage, the following wise commentary is
made : * By this we understand that the principle of power, which
existed in the bosom of God, by which the worlds were framed, was
faith, and that it is by reason of this principle of power, existing in
the Deity, that all created things exist; so that all things in heaven,
on earth, and under the earth, exist by reason of faith, as it exists
in him.* * Had it not be«n for the principle of ^th, the worldi

THE BOOK or MORMON. 129

would never have been framed, neither would man have been formed
of the dust; it is the principle by which Jehovah works, and
through which he exercises power over ail temporal as well as eter-
nal tilings; take this principle or attribute (for it is an attribute)
from the Deity, and he would cease to exist.* Here is a bright
idea, and a bright perception of the meaning of language. I'he
apostle, in the above quotation, says, * Through faith toe understand.'
Who understand.' *We,' says the apostle. Understand what.**
'That the worlds were framed by the word of God,' not by faith.
The evident meaning to any man, even of the most ordinary per-
ception, is, that the followers of Christ, through the aid of faith, un-
derstand or know that the worlds were made oy the power of God.
Faith must always have a subject; but in what could God have
feith? What was there to have faith in, before the worlds were
framed ? But adtnitting that there were other beings, God was
greater tlian they, and what aid could he derive from having faith in
mferiors ? To suppose that God, by having faith in others, could be
aided, would be taking away his omnipotence ; for that which is all
powerful caimot be made stronger. Further, if I perform^ miracle
through faith in God, the miracle is not my work, but the work of
God, done a»,a reward of my faith; to say, then, tliat God could
not have made the worlds without faith in others, is to say he did
not make them at all, but that they were made by those in whom he
had faith. But perhaps we are to understand that God made the
worlds through faith in himself. Now, faith in himself means noth-
ing more than confidence in himself; to say, therefore, that God
f made the worlds by faith in himself, is to say that he made them by
confidence in himself. What nonsense !

** On page 85, it is said that 'Enoch was twenty-five years old
when he was ordained, under the hand of Adam; and he was sixty-
five, and Adam blessed him, and he saw the Lord ; and he walked
with him, and was before his face continually, and he walked with
God three hundred and sixty -five years, making him four hundred
and thirty years old when he was translated.' Per Contra. Gen.
iv. 23, reads thus : ' And all the days of Enoch were three hundred
sixty and five years.* Here, then, is a difference of only sixty-five
years between the Mosaic account of the age of Enoch, and that
given by Joe Smith. Which is correct ?

" On page 175, we have the following : * For behold I, God, have
suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer even as J ;
which suffering caused myself, even God, me greatest of all, to trem-
ble because of pain.' The idea of the Godhead, or Divinity, suffer-
ing involuntary pain, will excite a sneer by the mere mentioning.

"On page 102, it is said, 'The day shall come when you shall
comprehend even God.' In these days it takes a shrewd man to
comprehend a fool, but the Mormons are to comprehend even God ;
of course their comprehension must be at least commensurate with
his power, which is infinite.

" The prophet Ezekiel said by the Lord, * This proverb shall be no
more heard in Israel, " The fathers have, eaten sour grapes, and the

130 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

children's teeth are set on edge." ' But the Mormons have revived
tills proverb, (page 219,) thus : afler stating that if a person trespass
against you, you shall forgive him three times, it says, ' But if he
trespass against tliee the fourth time, thou shalt not forgive him, but
thou shalt bring these testimonies before the Lord, and they shall
not be blotted out until he repent and leward thee fourfold in all
things wherewith he has trespassed against thee, and if he do this
thou shalt forgive him with ail tliine heart; and if he do not this, I,
the Lord, will avenge thee of tliine enemies an hundred fold ; and
upon his children, and his children's children, of all tliem that bate
me, until the third and fourth generations.' Here is tlie old proverb
revived wilii a vengeance ! For it will be perceived, by reading the
next few lines, that there is no forgiveness to the children unless
they restore tlie trespass of tlieir fathers, and that, too, fourfol<j.
It reads thus: 'But if the children shall repent, or tlie children's
children, and turn unto the Lord their God, with all their hearts,
and with all their might, mind, and strengtli, and restore fourfold,
for all their trespasses wherewith they have trespassed, and where-
witli their fathers have trespassed, or their fathers' fathers, then
thine indignation shall be turned away, and vengeance shall no more
come upon them.' If this be true, hard fate for the Mormons.

** On pa^e 106, in speaking of Christ, it is said, that * The saints
shall be tilled with his glory, and receive their inheritance, and be
made equal with him.' On this passage. Parley P. Pratt, in the Voice -
of Warning, (a standard work of the Mormons,^ makes the following
argument, which I give in this place as an illustration of the wild
doctrines of Mormonism : * See the prayer of Christ recorded by
John, concerning his saints becoming one with him and the father,
as they are one, and certainly they are equal : and afain, the saints
are joint heirs with him ; and a^ain, he that overcometh shall sit down
witn Christ on his throne, as ne has overcome and set down with
the father on his throne ; and again, tlie spirit shall guide his saints
unto all truth, God is in possession of all truth, and no more, conse-
quently his saints will know what he knows ; and it is an acknowl-
edged principle that knowledge is power; consequently if they had
the same knowledge that God has, they will have tlie same power.
And this will fulhithe Scriptures which say, unto him that believ-
eth all things are possible, and I am sure God can do no more than
all things ; consequently, there must be equality. Hence the pro-
priety or calling them God's, even tlie sons of God.' Such is the
reasoning of the Apostle Parley P. Pratt, and such is the doctrine
of the Church, for they believe that they will have power to create
worlds, and that tliose worlds will transgress the law given ; conse-
quently they will become saviors to those worlds, and redeem them ;
never, until all this is accomplished, will their glory be complete ;
and then there will be ' Lords many and Gods many.' "

Mormonism Foirtrayed, pp. 20 — ^23.

TH£ BOOK OF MOBMON. 131

MORMON PARADISE.
Harris says, —

'* The Mornion idea of a Paradise la- a singular feature in their
creed. They, however, re^rd it as one which shows the superi-
ority of their system over all others, and ridicule, as absurd, the no-
tion generally entertained of the location and nature of heaven. As
a matter of curiosity, then, as well as to make a further display of
the absurdities of Mormonism, I will here insert a description of the
Mormon Paradise, taken from the Voice of Warning, pages 179,
80 Alluding to a prophecy in the Book of Mormon, the author
says, ' Froui this prophecy we learn. First, That America is a chosen
land. Secondly, That it is the place of the new Jerusalem, which
shall come down from God out of heaven upon the earth, when it is
renewed. Thirdly, That a new Jerusalem is to be buih in America,
to the remnant of Joseph, (the Indians,) like unto or afler a similar
pattern to the old Jerusalem in the land of Canaan ; and that the
old Jerusalem shall be rebuilt at the same time ; and tliis being done,
both cities will continue in prosperity on the earth, until the great
and last change, when the heavens and the earth are to be renewed.
Fourtli, We learn that when this change takes place, the two cities
are caught up into heaven, together with the inhabitants tliereof,
and being changed, and made new, the one comes down on the
American land, and the other to its own place as formerly. Fifth,
We learn that the inhabitants are the same that gathered together
and first builded them. The remnant of Joseph and those garnered
with them, inherit the new Jerusalem ; and the tribes of Israel,
gathered from the north countries, and from the four quarters of the
earth, inhabit the other, and thus all things being made new, we find
those who were once strangers and pilgrims on the earth, in pos-
session of that better country, and that city for which they sought.*

*' Here, then, is a picture of , the Mormon Paradise. Let us now,
for a monjient, compare it to the Paradise of God, or the city of in-
heritance, spoken of, and sought for, by the prophets and apostles.

" Christ said, when on earth, ' In my Father's house are many
mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare
a place for you.* Now, where did Christ speak of going.? To the
earth ? He was already there, and on the very spot where one of
the new Jerusalems, a'-mding to the Mormons, is to be. He meant,
evidently, to his Father's house, the place where is the throne of God.
Paul, in his allusion to this passage, says, * For we know, that if
this earthly house of our tabernacle were dissolved, we have a build-
ing of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.*
And speaking of Abraham, *For he looked for a city which hath
foundations, whose maker and builder is God.' Here is Paul's idea
of heaven, ^ a house not made with hands, eternal (that is, existing
from, and to, all eternity) in the heavens.' The Mormon Paradise,
on the other hand, is to be built by men, (not by God, as was Abra-
luim's,) and does not yet exist. Again, Peter says, *■ Blessed be the

133 < HZSTOjElT or THE SAINTS.

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his
abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an mheritance
incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away; reserved in the
heavens for you, who are kept by the power of God,' through faith,
unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.' Here Peter's
inheritance is ' reserved in the heavens ; * not to be built here-
after, but now being, and reserved 'ready to be revealed at the
last time.'

" Again, Peter, in his 2d Epistle, 3d chapter, and 10 — 13th verses,
says, * The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the
which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the ele-
ments shall melt with fervent heat ; the earth, also, and the works
that are therein, shall be burned up. Seeing, then, that all these
things shall be dissolveci, what manner of persons ought ye to be in
all holy conversation and 'godliness, looking^ for and hasting unto
the coming of the day of God, wherein the neavens, being on fire,
shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat .'•
nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and
a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.' Now, here Peter says
that the old earth shall pass awav, and that, according to the prom-
ise of God, we look for a ^ new heaven, and a new earth j ' not the
present heavens and the present earth renewed^ as the Mormons have
it. To renew merely implies to change; but Peter says that the
earth shall pass away. Again, John, referring to tiie same, Rev. 21st
chapter, 1st verse, says, * And I saw a new heaven and a new earth,
for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there
was no more sea.' Now, if there is to be no sea, how can the new
earth be divided into continents.'' But the Mormons say there are
to be two Jerusalems, one on the eastern and the other on the west-
ern continent. John goes on to say, * And I saw the holy city, new
Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a
bride adorned fur her husband.' He does not say that the city was
caught up into heaven, brick houses and all made by men, and then
let down again, as the Mormons have it, but, * I saw tfie city (not
two cities) coming down from God,' on the ntw earth. Further, in
the same chapter, 22d verse, he says, ' And I saw no temple therein,
for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.'
Now, in the revelation giving directions for building the Mormon
new Jerusalem, they are to build a Temple, &c., and, according to
Pratt's account, the cities are to be caught up into heaven, and are
to be let down after the earth is renewed ; of course, there are to be
temples literally speaking. A great number of other passages might
be quoted, to show the dissimilarity between the Mormon Paradise
and that which is described in the Scriptures ; but enou£;h has been
said to prove theirs a mere invention oi the imagrination. '

Mormonism Portrayed^ by WiUiam Harris, pp. 23 — ^25.

\

HISTORY OF THE MORMOI7S. 133

HISTORY OF THE MORMONS.

Mr. Harris observes, —

" An account of the origin of Smith, the discovery of the plates,
and their translation, ^ill be found in another portion of this work ;
I shall therefore confine myself more particularly, in this chapter, to
thie history of the Mormon Church, with a view thereby more fully
to illustrate its character. Its first organization, with only six mem-,
bers, was shortly afler the publication of the Book of Mormon, in
ld30. These first members, consisting mostly of persons who were
engaged with Smith in the translation of the plates, forthwith set
themselves with great zeal to building up the Church. Their first
eflTorts were confined to Western New York and Pennsylvania, where
they met with considerable success. Afler a number of converts
had been made. Smith received a revelation, that he and all his
followers should "^o to Kirtland, Ohio, and there take up their abode.
Many obeyed this command, selling their pDssessions, and helping
each other to settle in the spot designated. Thij place was the heacH
quarters of the Church, and the residence of the Prophet, until 1838;
but it does not appear that they ever regarded it as a place of per-
manent settlement ; for in Book of Covenants, page 150, it is said, in
speaking of Kirtland, ' I consecrate this land unto them for a littla
season, until I the ijord provide for them to go hence.'

" In the spring of 1831, Smith, Rigdon, and others, were directed,
by revelation, (see Book of Covenants, page 193,) to go on a journey
to Missouri, and there the Lord was to show them the place of the
new Jerusalem. This journey was accordingly taken, and when
they arrived, a revelation was received, (see B. C., p. 1S4,) pointing
out the town of Independence, Jackson county, as the central place for
the Land of Promise, where they were directed to build a temple, &c.
Shortly afler their return to Kirtland, a number of revelations were
received, commanding the Saints, throughout the country, to pur-
chase and settle in this Land of Promise. Accordingly many went
and began there to build up Zion, as they called it.

'^ In the mean time, Smith, Rigdon, &c.^ devoted their labors in
Kirtland to building up themselves and the Church.

** In 1831, a consecration law was established in the church, by
revelation. It was first published in the Book of Conimandments,

fage 93, and in the Evening and Morning Star, 1st ed., No. 3, Vol. I.
t reads thus : * If thou lovest me thou shalt keep my command-
ments, and thou shalt consecrate (dl of thy properties unto me, with
a covenant and deed which cannot be broken.* This law, however,
has been republished, in the Book of Covenants, page 122, and in
the republication, has oeen altered. As modified, it reads thus : * If
thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all of my command-
ments, and behold thou shalt remember the poor, and consecrate of
thy. properties for their support that which thou hast to impart unto
them with a covenant and deed, which cannot be broken.' Let m^
digress for one moment, and ask why this alteration. It does ap>

134 * HISTORY OF TH£ SAINTS.

pear to have been done by command of God, but purports to be
the same revelation as was first published. This is demonstration
that Smith makes and alters revelations, to suit his own purposes.

^^ The details of this consecration law will be found in Book of
Covenants, page 15i>, and reads thus : * Hearken unto me, saith the
Lord your God, and 1 will speak unto my servant Edward Patridge,
and give unto him directif)ns ; for it must needs be that he have
directions how to organize the people;- for it must nee.ls be thai
they are organized according to my laws. If otherwise, they will
be cut off; wherefore let my s*>rvant Edward Patridge, and those
whom he has chosen in whom I am well pleased, appoint unto this
people their portion, every man equal according to their families,
according to circumstances, and their wants and needs; and let my
servant Edward Patridge, when he shall appoint a man his portion,

five unto him a writing, that shall secure unto him his portion, that
e shall hold it, even this right and this inheritance in the Church,
until he transgresses and is not accounted worthy by the voice of
the Church, to belong to the Church, according to the laws and
covenants of the Church; and if he shall transgress and is not ac-
counted worthy to belong to tiie Church, he shadl not have power to
claan that portion which he has consecrated unto the Bishop, for
the poor and the needy of my, Church, therefore he shall not retain
the giil, but shall only have claim to that portion which is deeded
unto him. — And thus all things shall be made sure according to the
laws of the land.

" * And let that which belongs to this people, be appointed unto
this people, and the money which is left unto this people, let there
be an agent appointed unto this people, to take the money to pro-
vide food and raiment according to the wants of this people. And
let every man deal honestly and be alike amongst this people, and
receive alike, that he may be even as I have commanded you.

" * And let that which belongeth to this people not he taken and
given unto that of another church : wherefore if another church
would receive money of this Church, let them pay unto this Church
according as they shall agree, and this shall be done through the
Bishop or the agent, which shall be appointed by the voice of the
Church.'

" And again, *• Let the Bishop appoint a storehouse unto this
Churci^, and let all things both in money and in meat, which is more
than is needful for the wants of this people, be kept in the hands of
the Bish :>p. And let him also reserve unto himself for the wants of
his family, as he shall be employed in doing this business.' Again,
speakihg^of this law, * Behold, this shall be an example unto my
servant Edward Patridge in other places, in all churches, and whoso
is found a faithful, a just, and wise steward, shall enter into the joy
of his Lord, and shall inherit eternal life. Verily I say unto you, I
am Jesus Christ, who cometh quickly, in an hour you think not;
even so. Amen.'

" The penalty attached to a breach of this law will be found in
the Book of Covenants, page 241, thus : '■ Therefore, if any man
shall take of the abundaince which I have made, and impart not his

HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. 135

poortion, according to the law of the gospel, unto the poor and the
needy, he shall with the wicked htl up HiB eyes in hell, beinj in
tonn^.it.'

** These were the provisions of the'^ consecration laws, which, so
far as 1 am inli^rmed, are yet unrepealed. Tney have never, how-
ever, been put in full operation ', because the people would not uulfer
it. Tne whole scheme was evidently designed for the beneht of
Smith Ck, Co., as will more fully appear by wtiat follows.

^*Iii April, 1632, a firm was established . by revelation, ostensibly
for the oenefit oi the Cnurch, consisting of the principal members
in Kirtland and in Independence. (See B. C, pages 1^19 and 220.)
Tne member:} of th s firm were bound together by an oath and cov-
enant, to ' manage the alfaira of the poor^ and all things pertaining
to the bishopric, both inZion (Missouri) and in Shinahar (Kirtland.)
According to the consecration law, above quoted, the Bishop was to
h^ve charge of all consecrated property, also to have charge of the
storehouse of the Church; consequently, as this firm superseded the
B.sh^p, .t had charge of all the consecrated property. In June, 16'6.i,
a reveiation was received to lay off Kirtland in lots, and the pro*
ceeds of the sale were to go to this firm, (B. C, p. 234.) In 1834 or
'5, the firm was divided by revelation, (6. C, 240,) so that those in
Kirtland continued as one firm, and those in Missouri as another.
In the same revelation, they are commanded to divide the conse-
crated property between the individuals oi* the firm, which each
8<>parately were to manage as stewards Previous to this, in 1833, a
revelation was received to build a temple, (B. C, p. 213,) -which was
to be done by the consecrated funds in the management of the firm.
In puttmg up this structure, the firm involved itself in debt to a large
amount ; wherefore, in the revelation last mentioned above, the fol-
lowing appears: ^ Inasmuch as ye are humble and faithful, and call
on my name, behold I will give you the victory, I give unto you a
promise that you shall be delivered this once out of your bondage,
inasmuch as you obtain a chance to loan money by hundreds and
thousands, even till you have obtained enough to deliver yourselves
out of bondage.' This was a command to oorrow money, in order
to free themselves from the deht that oppressed them. 1 hey made
tKe attempt, but failed to get sufficient to satisfy their purposes.
This led to another expedient.

" In 1835, Smith, Rij^doii, and others, formed a mercantile- house,
and purchased goods m Cleveland and in Buffalo, to a very large
amount, on a credit of six months. In the fall, other houses were
formed, and goods purchased in the eastern cities to a still greater
amount. A great part of the ffoods of these houses went to pay the
workmen on the Temple, and many were sold on credit, so that
when the liotes became due, the houses were not able to meet thein.
Smith, Rigdon, <& Co., then attempted to borrow money, by issuing
their notes payable at different periods after date. This expedient
not being effectual, the idea of a Bank suggested itself. Accord-
ingly, in 1837, the far-famed Kirtland Bank was put into operation,
without charter. This institution, by which so many have been
swiadled, was formed after the following manner : Subscribers for

196 NnTomr or th« saikts.

stock were allowed to pay the amount of their subscriptions in town
lots, at five or six times their real value ; others paid in personal
property, at a high valuation; and soipe paid the cash. When the
notes were first issued, they were current in the vicinity, and Smith
took advantage of their credit to pay oiF, with them, the debts he
and the brethren had contracted in the neighborhood, for land, &c.
Tfife eastern creditors, however, refused to take them. This led to
the expedient of exchanging them for the notes of other banks.
Accordmgly, the elders were sent off the country to barter off Kirt-
land money, which they did with great zeal, and continued the
operation, until the notes were not worth twelve and a half cents to
tne dollar. As might have been expected, this institution, after a few
months, exploded, involving Smith and his brethren in inextricable
difficulties. The consequence was, that he and most of the mem-
bers of the Church set off, in the spring of 1838, for Far West, Mo.,
being pursued by their creditors, but to no effect.

" 1 will now go back for a short period. In 1836, an endowment
meeting, or solemn assembly, was called, to be held in the Temple
at Kirtland. It was given out that those who were in attendance at
the meeting should receive an endowment, or blessing, similar to
tha^. experienced by the disciples of Christ on the day of Pentecost.
When the day arrived, great numbers convened from the different
Churches in the country. They spent the day in fasting and praver,
and in washing and perfiiminff their bodies ;«they also washed their
feet, and anointed their heads with what they called holy oil, and
pronounced blessings. In the evening, they met fot the endow*
ment. The fast was then broken by eating light wheat bread, and
drinking as much wine as they saw proper. Smith knew well how
to infuse the spirit which they expected to receive ; so he encour-
aged the brethren to drink freely, telling them liiat the wine was
consecrated, and would not make them drunk. As may be sup-
posed, they drank to the purpose. After this, they began to prophe*
sy, pronouncing blessings upon their friends, and curses upon their
enemies. If I should he so unhappy as to go to the regions of the
4amned, 1 never expect to hear language more awful, or more be-
' coming the infernal pit, than was uttered that night. The curses

were pronounced principally upon the clergy of the present day, and
upon the Jackson county mob in Missouri. After spending the
night in alternate blessings and cursings, tj^e meeting adjourned.

** 1 now return to Missouri. The Mormons who had settled iii
and about Independence, having become very arrogant, claiming the
land as their own, — saying the Lord had given it to them, — and
makinff the most haughty assumptions, so exasperated the old citi-
zens, mat a mob was raised, in 1833, and expelled the whole Mormon
body from the county. They fled to Clay county, where the citi-
zens permitted them to live in quiet, until 1836, when a mob spirit
began to manifest itself, and the Mormons retired to a very thinly-
settled district of tlie country, where they began, to make improve-
ments. This district was, at the session of 18^^7 of the Missouri
Legislature, erected into a county, by the name of Caldwell, with
Ffur West for its county seat. Here the Mormons remained in

HISTORT OF THE MORMOBTS. ^ 137

quiet, until after the Bank explosion in Kirtlahd, in 1838, when
Suiith, Ri^don, 6lc. amved. Shortly afler this, the D^nite Society
was organized, — the object of which, at first, was to drive the dis-
senters out of the county. The members of this s ciety were bound
together by an oath and covenant, with the penalty of death attached
to a breach, to defend the Presidency, and each other, unto death, —
right or wrong. They had their secret signs, by which they knew
each other, either bv day or night; and were divided into bands of
tens and fifties, with a captain over each band, and a general over
the whole. AAer this body was formed, notice was given to several
of the dissenters to leave the county, and they were threatened
severely, in case of disobedience. The effect of this was, that many
of the dissenters left ; amongst these were David Whitmer, John
Whitmer, Hiram Page, and Ohver Cowdery, all witnesses to the
Book of Mormon, also Lyman Johnson, one of the Twelve Apostles.
The day after John Whitmer left his house in Far West, it was
taken possession of by Sidney Rigdon. About this time, Rigdon
preached his famous *salt sermon.' The text w^as — * Ye are tiie'
salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost its saVor, wherewith shall
it be salted; it is thenceforth 'good for nothing, but to be cast out,
and to be trodden under foot or men.' He informed tlie Mormons
that the Church was the salt, that dissenters were the salt that had lost
its savor, and that they were literally to be trodden under the feet
of the Church, until their bowels should be gushed out. In order to
give weight to this interpretation, he attempted to sustain his posi-
tion from the Bible ! He referred to the case of Judas, informing the
people that he did not fall headlong and his bowels gush out, with-
out assistance, but that the apostles threw him, and with their feet
trampled them out ! He also said that Ananias and Sapphira, his
wife, did not fall down dead, as translated ; but that Peter and John
slew them, and the young men, or deacons, carried them out and
buried them.

^* In one of the meetings of the Danite Band, one of the leaders
informed them that the time was not far distant, when the elders of
the Church should so forth to tlie world with swords at their sides,
and that they would soon have to ^o through the State of Missouri,
and slay every man, woman, and cnild ! Tney had it in contempla-
tion, at one time, to prophesy a dreadful pestilence in Missouri, and
then to poison the waters of the State, to bring it about, and thus to
destroy the inhabitants.

'Mn the early part of the fall of the year 1838, the last disturb-
ance between the Mormons and the Missourians commenced. It
had its origin at an election in Daviess county, where some of the
Mormons had located. A citizen of Daviess, in conversation with a
Mormon, remarked that the Mormons all voted one way : this was
with warmth denied. A violent contest ensued ; when at last tlie
Mormon called the Missourian a liar. Upon this the Missourian
struck him. A row between the Mormons and Missourians fol-
lowed.

" A day or two after this, Smith, with a company of men from
Far West, went into Daviess, county, for the purpose, as they said,

12*

138- HISTOBY or T73E SAHTl^r.

to quell the mob ; but when they arrived, there was no mob there.
This excited the citizens of Daviess, and they gathered in turn. But
the Mormons soon collected a force to the amount of three or four
hundred, and compelled the citizens to retire. They fled, leaving
the country deserted for a number of miles around. At this time
they killed between one and two hundred hogs, a number of cattle,
took at least forty or fifty stands of honey, and at the same time
destroyed several fields of corn. The word was out, that the Lord
had consecrated, through the Bishop, the spoils unto his host. All
this was done when they had plenty of their own, and previous to
the citizens in that section of the country taking aught of theirs.
They continued these depredations for near a week, when the Clay-
county militia were ordered out. The history of what followed will
be found in another chapter. Suffice it to say, here, that Smith, Rig-
don, and many others, were finally taken, and at a court of inquiry
were remanded over for trial, lligdon was afterwards discharged
on habeas corvvs^ and Smith and his comrades, after being in prison
Several months, escaped from their ffuards, and reached Quincy,
Illinois. The Mormons had been before ordered tojeav^ the State,
by direction of the Governor ; and many had retired to Illinois pre-
vious to Smith's arrival.

"Of this Missouri war, as it has been called, a great deal has-been
said, and public opinion,^at the time, generally censured the conduct
of Missouri. That the Missourians carried the matter too far, and
treated the Mormons with an unnecessary degree of cruelty, in
many instances, there can be no doubt ; but that there was great
cause of aggravation, there can be just as little. The truth is, that
while the Mormon body, as a church, interfere with the pecuniary
and political acts of its members, assuming the sole direction of
both, it will be impossible for them to live in peace in any commu-
nity. The necessary consequence of their regarding the words of
Smitli as the words of the Lord, is, that he can unite them when-
ever it may be necessary to effect his purposes. This, probj^bly,
would produce no jealousy, if his acts were confined to ecclesiastical
government ; but when thev extend to controlling the political and
pecuniary interests of his loUowers, it must inevitably produce dis-
trust and enmity. Such a community, thus united, nold the rights
of the neighboring citizens in their own hands ; and in every con-
test they must come off victors. They have a capacity for secrecy,
which enables them to commit any act of depredation, without the
fear of detection ; and when a crime has been committed by one of
them, they are so united to each other's interests, as to render it
almost impossible, through a legal 'formula, to obtain a conviction.
Is it any wonder, tlien, uiat a body thus controlled — their interest
confined within themselves, and inimical in its nature to that of the
other citizens — should excite jealousy ? And when we consider the
materials of which the Church is made, the amount of ignorance,
bigotry, and arrogance, that is displayed by its members, is it at all
surprising that an explosion should take place between them and
those by whom they are surrounded ? Now, even admitting that
the Mormons were honest, yet, taking all things into conaiderAtioa,

msraax of the mormons. 139

the Missourians acted, in the commencement' of the difficulties, as
would almost any community in fhe country. I do not justify their
mobs ; on the contrary, 1 say that a mob in no case is justiiiable ;
but I do say that, as society is now constituted, mobs will arise,
under certain circumstances, in any community. Let, then, those
who have regarded th^ Missourians as a set of unprincipled despera-
does, because of their conduct towards tlie Mormons, bethink them,
that the same scenes, under the same circumstances, would, in all
probability, have been enacted in their .own neighborhoods. It was
not the mere religion of the Mormons, that exasperated the Missou-
rians ; it was their arrogance, — their united purpose to protect each
other, and to infringe on the rights of otlier citizens, — their thefls,
and their concealments of each other's crimes. These were all,
under the circumstances, injuries without legal remedies ; and, al-
though this does not justify a mob, yet there are few communities
in this country, that would not, if placed in the same situation, have
been exasperated to violence. •

*' The Mormons, as a body, arrived in Illinois in the early part of
the year lSi9. At this time they presented a spectacle of destitu-
tion and wretchedness almost unexampled. This, together with
their tales of persecution and privation, wrought powerfully upon
the sympathies of the citizens, and caused them to be received with
the greatest hospitality and kindness. Afler the arrival of Smith,
the greater part of them settled at Commerce, situated on the Mis-
sissippi River, at the head of the Des Moines, or Lower Rapids, — a
site equal in beauty to any on the river. Here they began to build
their habitations, and in the short space of two years have raised
quite a city. At first, as was before said, on account of their former
sufferings, and also of the great political power which they pos-
sessed, they were treated by the citizens of Illinois with great re-
spect; but subsequent events have served to turn the tide of feeling
against them. In the jvintej:.ijilJL8J,0i the^ j^ *

o f tlie State f or seyerai charters — one for tjjfi ijity of Nauvoo, the
name Smith had given to the town of Comxayeice^ — ^one for the
Nauvoo Legion, a *ftiiitajry_body.,.^.one for manufacturing^iirposes,
--- jM^^nh ..SoLjaJiJbaJiSSISti^ The prlviTeges whrch'tKey asked for ^
Were very extensive ; and such was the des ire to se cure the ir politi- ^
cal favor, that theyjvere gxonleSL^ Hwitt^re asking! InHeea the '
greaL oner of our Legislature seemed to vie with Vacn other in syco-
phtuicy to this set of fanatical strangers, — so anxious was each
party to do some act «that would secure their gratitude. This, to«
^ether with the sycophancv o£ office-seekers, .tended, to pfoduc«3j'*"
jealousy in the minds of the "neighboring citizens, and fears were*
expressed, lest a^ bfidji:^ so unitedL Jbjith rftligiftusly ..and...pn]itin«11y,
would become dangrerou s to n^^r Trpft iT^gfi^^ijijina. The Mormons
~h5d nearly all voteJ Ai every election with their leaders, and evi-
dently under their direction ; this alone made them formidable. The?
Legion had got under its direction a great .portion of the arms of the/
State, and the whole body was ^placed under the strictest military 1
discipline. These things, together with complaints similar to those**
which were viade in Missouri, tended to arouse a strong feeling
sgaiost thiiin ; when ait last, in th* early part of the summer of

i- 1'

.i «

S^40

HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

\ ' . ' ' 1841, a political move was made by them, and the citizens organ*
*■ ^ ized a party in opposition. The Motmons were beaten in the con-

test. The disposition now manifested by the citizens appears to be,
to act on the defensive ; but to maintain their rights at all hazards.
Ifthe Mormons consent to act as other citizens, they will not be mo-
lested on account of their religion ; but freemen will not submit to
be trampled on by an organized body of men, no matter by what
name they are called, or whose standard they follow.,

" As regards the pecuniary transactions of the Mormons, since
they have been in Illinois,— * Smith still uses his power for his own
benefit. His present operations are to purchase land at a low
rate, lay it off into town lots, and sell them at a high price to his
followers. Thus, lots that scarcely cost him a dollar, are frequently
sold for a thousand. He has made several towns in this manner,
both in Iowa and in Illinois.

'^ During the last year, he has made two proclamations to his fol-
lowers abroad, to settle in the county of Hancock. These proclama-
tions have been to a great extent obeyed, and hundreds are n&w
flocking in, from the Eastern States, and from England What is
to be the result of all this, I am not able to tell ; but one thing is
certain, — that, in a politicul point of view, the Mormons are already
dangerous ; and as a consequence, they will be watched with jeal-
ousy by their neighbors."

Mortnonism Portrayed, by WiUiam Harris, pp. 28 — 36

THE DESIGNS OF MORMONISM.

Mr. Harris remarks, —

<' The desiffhs of Smith and his coadjutors, at the time of the first
publication of the Book of Mormon, was, doubtlessly, nothing more
than pecuniary aggrandizement. I do not believe, at that time, they
expected that so many could ever be duped to admit it true. When,
however, the delusion began to spread, the publishers saw the door'
opened not only for wealth, but also for extensive power ; and their
history throughout shows that they have not been remiss in their
efforts to acquire both. The extent of their desires is now by no
means limited, for their writings and actions show a design to pursue
the same path, and attain the same end by the same means, as did
Mahomet. The idea of a second Mahomet arising in the nineteenth
century, may excite a smile ; but when we consider the steps now
taking by the Mormons to concentrate their numbers, and their
ultimate design to unite themselves with the Indians, it will not be
at all surprising, if scenes unheard of since the days of feudalism
should soon be rednacted.

^^In the first place, Smith, by proclamations and by revelations,
has called all his followers to settle immediately arouod him. The

THE DESIGNS OF MOBMONISM. 141

last reyelation on this subject is published in the Times and
Seasons dated June 1, 1841, i'roni which 1 extract the folluwiiig:
* Awake! O! Kings of the Earth! Come ye, O! Couie ye, wiih
your gold and your silver, to the help of my people, to the house of
the Daughter of Z ion, * * *. And again, verily I shy unto you, let all
my Saints come from afar ; and send ye s wifl messengers, yea, chosen'
messengers, and say unto them, come ye with all your gold, and
your silver, and your precious stones, and with your antiquities,' <&«.
They are further informed, in the course of this revelation, that alter
suthcient time has been allowed to build a baptismal font at iNauvuo,
their baptisms for the dead shall not be acceptable in other places.
The object of Smith, in all this, is evidently tc^ f^Mffft ftU h"* fffl"

loweT3~tUtUOIi6 place, and thus to concentrate all his DOwer, and
ifi htm iht? Detter to secure weaTtni

" These quotations and" statements are introduced to show that
they are concentrating all their energies at one point, and that they
teach their proselytes that it is the wiU of God that they should thus
concentrate themselves. In accordance with this, 1 wish to make
a few remarks : First, it is a notorious fact that they (the Mormons)
are gathering from every part of the world, and all their teachers
are mstructed, by revelation, to gather them together at Nauvoo.
Secondly, they have obtained an act of the Legislature, organizing
the * Nauvoo Legion, ' (which may be increased to an indefinite
number,) navg. oE uined arms of tlie^overnment^^nd^jixe^ at t*^'«
t ime more than one thoii sand strong, and Increasing continually.

denomination, unless they have designs against the rights and liber*
ties of others ? Why are thev using their best exertions for, and
actually raising up, a large, well-drilled, well-armed, standing army •'
There cai ^ 1^^ ^9 f^Ugjon in thia^ every one knows ; and hence it tol-
lows that they are not only contemplating, but actually preparing
for, the execution of some murderous design. But as an illustration
of what they intend to do, J make the foUowing extracts from Kig-
don's oration, delivered at Far West, July 4, 1838, and from their
standard writings.

'* In his oration, Mr. Rigdon said, * We take God and all the
holv angels to witness this day, tliat we warn all men in the name
of Jesus Christ, to come on us no more forever. The man, or the
set of men, who attempts it, does it at the expense of their lives.
And tha t mob that comes on us to disturb us, it sha ll be between
US and t hem a war ot extermination, for we will toUow' them till the
TnMJlr^~7^l1ij>T^ tlnnif is spTITeS, brelSS - l \ wy will "ftUV g tS" exlcr-
minate us. X9IJy£ WillrcarryThEnggg t uf B»l ^^ ^^mL'SmST
and their own famiUes. and^ one party <Jf the other shall be utterlv
destrcrve a. IietBrtllUt?!' IL IheiTralT liieil.'' ^^^ JNo man shall be at
liberty to come into our streets, to threaten us with linobs ; for if
he does, he shall atone for it before he leaves the place ; neither
shall he be at liberty to vilify and slander any of us, for suffer it
we will not in this place. We, therefore, take all men to record
this day, as did our fathers. And we pledge this day to one an-
other our fortunes, our lives, and our sacred honors, to be delivered
from the persecatiQns which we have had to endure, for the last

142 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

nine years, or nearly that. Neither will we indulge any man, or
set of men, in inntituting vexatious lawsuits against us, to cheal us
out of our just rights ; if they attempt it, we say woe be unto them.
We tliis day, then, proclaitn ourselves free, with a purpose and a
determination, that can never be broken, — JVo, JVerer/ Mo,Mev£& ! !
NO, NEVER!!!'

" What gives this testimony the more importance is this — it was
uttered some time previous to the disturbance in Missouri, in which
they were driven away, and hence shows, conclusively, that Rigdon
&, Co. expected a disturbance, which could only have arisen
from an intention to act in such a manner, that the Missourians
would not bear with them. But, further : —

" Rook of Covenants, page 191 . * Wherefore, 1 say unto you,
that I have sent unto you mine everlasting Covenants, (namely, the
Book of Mormon,) even that which was from the beginning, and
that which I have promised I have so fulfilled, and the nations of the
earth shiiU bote to it ; and if not of themselves, they shaiL come dottm ;
for that which is now exalted of itself shall be Laid low of power J*
Also, on page 7(5, ' Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the
ends of the earth, that all that will hear may ; prepare ye, prepare
ye, for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh ; and the anger
of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is sheathea in heaven, and it
shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth ; and the arm of the Lord
shall be revealed ; and the day cometh, that they who will not hear
the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the
prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people.'
Also, on page 95, (perhaps it ought to be remarked here, that in all
their revelations, and by all their declaimers, they represent them-
selves and Indians as the instruments by which these desolations are
to be brought about,) ^ Go ye forth, as your circumstances shall per-
mit, in your several callings, unto the great and notable cities
and villages, reproving the world in righteousness of all their
unrighteous and ungodly deeds, setting forth clearly and uhderstand-
ingly, the desolation of abomination in the last days; for with you,
suitii tlie Lord Almighty, I will rend their kingdoms.* Also, page
117, *■ Wherefore, I nave called upon the weak things of the world,
those who are unlearned and despised, to thrash the nations by the
power of my spirit; and their arm shall be my arm, and -I wiU be
their shield and their buckler, and I will gird np their loins, and
they shall fight manfully for me ; and their enemies shall be under
their feet; and I will let fall the sword in their behalf; and by the
fire of mine indignation will 1 preserve them.'

" Voice of Warning, by Parley P. Pratt, one of the Twelve Apos-
tles, page lti6 : * The government of the United States has been
engaged, for upwards of seven years, in gathering the remnant of
Joseph (the Indians) to the very place where they will finally build
a new Jerusalem ; a city of Zion ; with the acquisition ot the be-
lieving Gentiles, who will gather with them from idl the nations of
the earth ; and this gathering is clearly predicted in the Book of
Mormon, and other revelations; and the place before appointed, and
the time s(*t for its fulfilment; and except the Gentiles repent of all
their abominations and embxace the same Covenant, (namely, the

• THE DESIGNS OF MOBMONISM. 143

Book of Monnon,) and come into the same place of gathering, they
wiU soon be destroyed from off the face of the land; ' as it is written
by Idaiah, * Tiie nuiion and kingdom that will not serve thee
shall perish. Yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.' It is
further stated, in the same work, that the Indians shall be gathered,
and that they, in connection with the Mormons, shall be aiiion^ the
Gentiles as * a young lion among the flock of siieep, and none cAin
deliver^* and that the Gentiles (all Anti- Mormons) shall be * as a
thing long since passed away, and ihe remembrance of it almost
gone from the earth/

^* But, to cap the climax, read the following: * All who will not
hearken, to the Book of Mormon, shall be cut off from among the
people ; and that too, in the day it comes forth to the Gentiles and
is rejected by them.' And not only does this page set the time for
the uvertlirovj of our government, and aU other Gentile governments
on the American Continent, but the way and means of this
utter destruction are clearly foretold ) namely, the remnant of Jacob
(or Indians) will go through among the Gentiles and tear them in
pieces like a lion among the flocks of sheep. Their hand shall be
lifled up upon their adversaries, and all their enemies shall he cut
off. This destruction includes an utter overthrow, and desolation
of all our cities, forts and strong-holds, — an entire annihilation of
our racCy except such as embrace the Covenant, and are numbered
with Israel ! ! ! ^ And I will state, as a prophecy, that there will not
he an unbelieving Gentile on the face of this continent fifty years
hence; and if they are not greatly scourged and in a great measure
overthrown within five or ten years from this date, (1838,) then the
Book of Mormon will have proved itself false.' This last quotation
comes from Pratt's ^Mormonism UnVeiled, or Truth Vindicated,'
— a work, by the way, so popular among them that it has already
passed through several editions Comment is unnecessary here ;
the fact stands proved, rlpnrly vtnA li^nf^ntrr^vprtj^ ly prov ed, tha t-
they contemplate nothing less than the butchery I murderJJ^nd
entire annihilation \\ \ ot all who will not subscriD(Mto llieir ridicu-
lous teacliTngs'"*7rn(rwhat adds insult to injury is this — that they
raise a long and loud cry of * persecution,' when people are only
defending themselves against their unlawful aggressions. In con-
clusion, permit lAe to ask my countrymen whether they are pre-
pared to allow these * wolves in sheep's clothing* to impose up<m
them by the false cry of peace, when it is evident that they have
only * religion on their tongues,' at the same time ' holding a dagger
in their hands, and murder in their hearts ' "

Mormonism Portrayed, by WiUiam Harris, pp. 44—47.

The Rev. L. Sunderland, in his Mormonism Exposed^

in speaking on this subject, remarks, —

"Mormons say that God has sent down from Heaven a
city, called the * new Jerusalem,' and located it [in Inde-
pendence] IN THE WESTERN BOUNDARIES OF MlSSOURI, WHERE
HE RE(IUIR£8 ALL HIS TRUE FOLLOWERS TO OO, Ui^DER THE FAIN OF
tll^ WRATH.

144 HISTORY OF l^HE SAINTd.

" And it is a fundamental principle with them, that if they can*
not buy the land, they are to wixun it by the sword.

** * America is a chosen land of the Lord, above every other land ;
it is the place of the new Jerusalem, which has come down jrom
God out of heaven, upon the earth.' — Voice of Warning, p. 179.

" ' This is the will of God concerning his saints, that they shall
assemble themselves together unto tiie land of Zion. Behold the
iand of Zion, I the Lord holdeth it in mv own hands ; notwithstand-
ing, 1, tile Lord, render eth unto Cffisar tne thinnrs which are Cassar's.
Wherefore, I, the Lord, willeth that you shall purchase the lands,
that you may have advantsrge of the world, that you may have claim
of the world, that they may not be stirred up unto anger; for Satan
putteth it iuto their hearts to anger against you, and to the sheddmg
of blood. Wherefore the land of Zion shall not be obtained but by
purchase, or by blood; otherwise there is none inheritance lor you.'
— Doc. and Cov., p. 143.

'^ ' A revelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith,
Jr., and six elders, as they united their hearts and lifted up their
voices on high, * * * for the gathering of his Saints to stand
on Mount Zion, which shall be the city of rJew Jerusalem ; which
shall be built, beffinning at the Temple Lot, [in Independence,]
appointed by the hnger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of
Missouri.' — lb., p. 8d.

** * And that it was the place of the new Jerusalem which should
come down out. of heaven, and the Holy Sanctuary of the Lord.' —
Book of Mormon, p. 566.

^' The Mormon leaders hold that they, or their sect, are

JUSTLY entitled TO THE TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL DoMINION OF

THESE United States, and that if they cannot otherwise
OBTAIN this Dominion, they are to gain it by the Sword.

*' ' Wherefore the land of Zion shall not be obtained, but by pur-
chase or by blood.' — Doc. and Cov., p. 143.

" It is added in connection with the above, * as ye are forbidden
to shed blood.' But how the Mormons are forbidden to shed blood
we shall see in the sequel.

" ' For behold, verily I say unto you, the Lord willeth that the
disciples and the children of men snould open their hearts even to
purchuse this whole region of country, as soon as time will permit.
Behold, here is wisdom, let them do this, lest they receive none in-
heritance, save it be the shedding of blood.' — lb., p. 139.

" The following is designed to signify* the utter destruction
of this nation, except it submits to Mormonism. By the Gentiles,
he means the people of these United States.

"* A remnant of the house of Jacob [as he calls our American
Indians] shall be among the Crentiles ; yea, in the midst of them,
h» a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the
flocks of sheep, who, if he go through, both treadeth down and
teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. Their hand shall be lifted
up upon their adversaries, and all their enemies shall be cut off
Yea, woe be unto the Gentiles, except they repent : for it shall goim

J

THE DESIGNS OF MOSMONXSH. 146

to paifl in that day, saith the Father, that I will cut off thy honei
out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots, and I will
Oil off the cities of thy Umd, and throw down toy strong-holdfl,* &c.

— yoice of Warnings p. lcJ8.

<' * And the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of
the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, [the Mormons,] neither
give heed to the words of the Prophets and Apostles, [Mormons,]
shall be cut off fri»m among the people — for they have broken
mine everlasting covenant.' — Doc. and Cov.j p. 76.

** * Everlasting covenant ' broken I

^ ' Therefore, having so great witnesses, [Joe Smith and Oliver
Cowdery,] by them shaJl the world be judged^ even as many as shall
hereailer come to a knowledge of this work — but those who harden
their hearts in unbelief, and reject it, shall turn to their own con-
demnation,* &c. — A., p. 78.

^* ^ Woe, i say again, unto that house, or that village, or city that
Tejecteth you, [Mormons,] or your words, or your testimony of nie.'

— lb., p. 93.

** * Let the Bishop go unto the city of New York, and also to the
city of Albany, and also to the city of Boston, and warn the people
of those cities with the sound of the gospel, with a loud voice, of
the DESOLATION and utter abolishment which awaits them if
they do reject these things,' [Mormonism.] — lb., p. 96.

**• ' Verily 1 say unto you, [Mormons,] that in time, ye shall have
no king nor ruler, for I will bie your king and watch over you ; and
you shall be a free people, and je shall nave no laws but my laws
when I come.' — /»., p. 119.

** * Assemble yourselves together to rejoice upon the land of Mis-
souri, which is the land of your inheritance, which is now in the
hand of your enemies.' — Ih., p. 194.

*' * Therefore, get ye straightway unto my land ; break down the
walls of mine enemies, throw down their tower, and scatter their
watchmen, avenge me of mine enemies, that by and by I may couie
and possess the land.' — lb., p. 238.

*< MORMONISU DEMANDS MoNEV AS THE CONDITION OF DiSCIFLE*
SHIP, UNDKK THE PENALTY OF EtERNAL DAMNATION.

"* Whoso receiveth you, receiveth me, and the same will feed
you, and clothe you, and give you honey— and he who doeth not
these things is not my disciple.' — Doc. and Cov., p. 93.

^ Here it will be seen, that giving money to the Mormon leaders,
is a condition of discipleship, and all who are not Mormon disciples
are doomed to hell !

**One Grand Design of Mormonism is, to fill the pock*

zts of its advocates with Money.

»

" * It must needs be that ye save all the money that ye can, and
that ye gain all ye can in righteousness.' Doc. and Con , p. 191.

'* * It is wisdom in me, that my servant Martin Harris should be
an example unto the Church, tn lauing his moneys before tite Bishop
of the Church. And also, this is a law unto every m/m that coiueth
ttuto this land, to receive an inheritance ; and br ihall do with hi*
moneys according as the law directs.' A., p. 13&
13

146 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

** From the next extract, which is addressed to one Titus Billing^,
the grand object of Monoonism appears in full view.

^* * And let all the moneys which can be spared, it mattereth not
unto me whether it be little or miLch, be sent up unto tlie land of Zion,
unto those I have appointed to receive it.' — lb. p. 143.

^^ Here it is again. Money, money, money !

'^ * And let all those (preachers) who have no families, who receive
moneys, send it up unto the Bishop of Zion, or unto the Bishop in
Ohio, th<tt it ma;^ be consecrated for the bringiugjorth of the revela-
tionsj and the printing thereof, and establishing Zion.*

** No * revelations ' can be brought forth without money. The
*■ new Jerusalem ' cannot come down from heaven without money.
Here it is again.

"* Behold, this is my will, obtaining moneys even as I have di-
rected.'— /6., p. 143,4.

^^ ' He that sendeth up treasures unto the land of Zion, shall re-
ceive an inheritance in this world. And his work shall follow him.
And also a reward in the world to come.' — lb., p. 144.

" And we must believe that the foregoing language is from the
mouth of the infinite God, under the penalty of eternal damnation !

'' Look, also, to the following, said to be the words of the Most
High : —

** * I command that thou shalt not covet thine ovm property, but
impart it freely to the printing of the Book of Mormon, which con-
tains the truths of the word ut God.' — lb., p. 175.

** * Impart a portion of thy property ; yea, even part of thy lands,
and tt// save the support of thy family.' — Ib.fP 176.

*^ The next extract is not only important, as it plainly shows the
true Mormon solicitude about nion''^, but it reveals an important fact
with regard to Oliver Cowdery, one of the eleven witnesses upon
whose ipse dixit we are commanded to believe the Book of Mor-
mon.

<' ^ Hearken unto me, saith the Lord your God, for my servant
Oliver Cowdery 's sake, it is not wisdom in me that he should be
intrusted with the commandments and the m4)neys, which he shall
carry up unto the land of Zion, except one go wUh him who is true
and faithful Wherefore, I, tlie Lord, willeUi that my servant, John
Whilinar, shall go with my servant, Oliver Cowdery.' — Jb., p. 138.

<< Does the reader sfiU doubt as to the grand design of Smith and
his associates ? Read the following : —

** ' It is meet that my servant. Joseph Smith, Jr., should have a
kcuse built in which to live and translate. And, again, it is meet
that my servant, Sidney Rigdon, should live as seemeth him good^
inasmuch as he keepeth my commandment^.* — lb , p. 189.

^* And from the following it will be seen that Joe Smith excuses
him!«elf from work, and has provided himself with * whatsoevkk he
needeth.* And this regulation is not only to last while he lives, but
be is to hold bis office m the world to come !

^ ' Provide for him food and raiment, and whaUoeoer be needeth.*

THE DESIGNS OF MORMOmSM. 147

** ' And in temporal labor thou (Smith) shalt not have strength,
ibr this is not thy caUing* — Ib.^i^ W'Z.

" * Verily, I say untj yon, (Joseph Smith, Jr.,) the keys of the
kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thuuart in this world,
neiUier in the world to come.' — Ib.^ p. 114.

" Nor is this all. A new * revelation ' has recently * come forth '
from this Iinp<»stor, in which he not only makes provision for
himself during life, but, also, for his family connections after him,
fonver ! ! lliis revelation is dated January 19, 1641, and has ap-
peared in the papers of the day. It orders the building of a board-
tug-house.

*' * And now, I say unto you, as pertaining to my boarding-house^
which I commanded you to build for the boarding of strangers ; let
it be built unto my name, and let mj name be named upon it, and
let my servant J tseph and his house have places therein frum

feanration to geuerafion. For this anointing have I put upon
is head, that his blessing shall also be put upon the heads of his
posterity after him^ and as I said unto Abraham, concerning the kin-
dreds of the earth, even so I say unto my servant Joseph, in thee,
and in thy seed, shall the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

« ( Therefore, let my servant Joseph, and his seed after him, have
place in that house from generation to generation forever and ever,
saith the Lord, and let the name of tliat nouse be called the Nauvoo
House.'

'' Mormons profess to act under the infallible Insfiratiok
OF God, and to have power to work Miracles.

'* ' Without these gifts [prophecy, miracles, healing, and all other
gifls] the Saints cannot be perfected ; the work nf the ministry
cannot proceed ; the body of Christ cannot be edified.' — P'oice of
Warnings pp. 118, 119.

" ' And as I said unto mine apostles, even so \ say unto you; for
ye are mine apostles — therefore as I said unto mine apostles, 1 say^
unto you again, that every soul who believeth on your word, and is
baptized with water for the remission of sins, shall receive the Holy
Ghost, and these signs sha^l folloto them that believe : In my name
they sh»iH cast out devils — heal the sick — open the eyes of the
blind — unstop the ears of the deaf — and if any man shall adminis-
ter poison unto them it shall not hurt them.' — Doc. and Cov.y p. 92.

^* Mormons are pledged to work Miracles when required
to do so.

" ' Require not miracles, except I shall command you, except cast-
ing out devils, healing the sick, and against poisonous serpents, and
i^ainst deadly poisons: and these things ye shall not do except it be
required of you, by them who desire it, that the Scriptures might be
fulfilled.* — Doc. and Cov., p. 112.

**^ Mormons affirm, that their Books were written, and
that the Book of Mormon was translated, Rr the Insp-ira-
TioN OF God ; and that thet are of ec^ual Authority with
the Holy Scriptures.

** The book called *• Doctrines and Covenants,' it seems, received

148 HISTOBT OF Tm: BAINTi^.

the approbation of the Mormon General ABsembly, Augnst 17, 1835.
Twelve Mormons bear the following testimony to its divine aa-
tbority.

** * We, therefore, feel willing to bear testimony to all the world
of mankind, * * * that the Liord hath borne record to our souls,
through the Holy Ghost shed forth upon us, that these command-
ments were given by inspiration of God, and are profitable fur alt
men, and are verily true. — Doe. and Cov., p. 256.

** 'They shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost;
and what they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost,
shall be Scripture.' — /&., p. 148.

"Mormons pretend to have Power to give the' Holt
Ghost to those on whom the? lay their Hands for this

PURPOSE.

*' * Behold, verily, verily, I say unto my servant, Sidney Rigdon,
* * * I give unto thee a commandment, that thou shalt baptize
with water, and they shall receive the Holy Ghost by the laying'
on of hands, even as the apostles of old.^ — Uioc. and Cov.<, p. 116.

"MORMONISM AUTHORIZES ThEFT.

" ' Behold it is said in my laws, or forbidden to ^t in debt to thine
enemies ; l/ut, behold, it is not said, at any time, that the Lord
should not txiJie when he please, and pay as setmeUi him good t
wherefore, as ye are agents, and ye are on the Lord's errand, and
vi^hatsoever ye do according to the will of the Lord is the Lord's
business, and he halh sent yen to provide for his Saints,* &c. — Doe,
and Cov , p. 147.

" A Mormon has only to imagine himself an agent of God, and,
according to the above precept, he may steal or cf>mmit any other
crime, and fancy himself doing the will of God all the while. And
these very things the Mormons have done."

Drom the LouiaviUe Journal of July 27, 1842.

** dir General John C Bennett, the author of the expositions of
Joe Smith's charneter and conduct, passed through tnis city on
Saturday. In consequence of some conversation we had with him,
he hatf since sent us the following letter^ The astounding fticts that
it sets forth are certainly worthy of the earnest consideration of the
civil authorities of Illinois.

(( * STXAMxa iMPoaTXK, July S3, A. D. 1&&

" ' To the Editors of the Louisville Journal : —

" * As I promised to lay before you some of the strong points of
objection to " the gathering of the Saints," or tlie congregating of
the Mormons at one point, or general head'quarters, I now proceed
to redeem the pledge.

"Mst. Nine hundred and ninety-nine thousandths of all the
faithful of the Mormon Church regard Joe Smith «as God's vice-
gerent oa earth, and obey him accordingly ; and all the Danites of

t *

wi '■

*'

/

THE DESIGNS OF MORMONISM.

149

\

that Church (and, by the bye, they compose no yery inconsiderable
proportion of their mighty hosts) are sworn to receive him as the \
supreme head of the Church, and to obey him as the supreme God.
If, therefore, any State officer, in the admmistration of public justice,
hdppens to ewe offence to His Holiness the Prophet, it becomes the
will of God, as spoken by the mouth of his Prophet, that that func-
tionary should Dis; and his followers, tAe ^ai/A/u^ iS^in/^, immedif
ately set about the work of assassination, in obedience, as they sup-
pose, to their Divine Master; and _for_which noble deed, t^ey
expect to receive an excellent and superior 'gt6ry'~tii the celestial,
kingdom ! ! ! It does not require Argus eyes to see the incalculable
mischief growing out of such a state of society ; and an intelligent
community must look on with awful forebodings and fearful antici-
pations, where such a state of things is suffered. Great God ! only
look at the horrible picture ! The lives ot thousands of human be-
ings depending upon the whim or caprice of the most corrupt,
Heaven-daring, and black-hearted Impostor that ever disgraced the
earth ! The whole community are in the most imminent danger,
from the common citizen to the highest public functionary, unless
they chain their fate to tlie car of IVlormon despotism.

^^. *2d. Where a large community, like the Mormons, are under
the absolute dictetion-of-a- v a eillat i Dg and e apii ei uw ^xaat, iike
Joe Smithy who acts not under the influence of reason, but is wholly -
governed bylmpUlses and selfish ThdllVes, political demagogues will
become" fitwntrrg 'tycophantsr,' and the'liest interests of the country
will be sacrificed to the ambitious views of an ancient or modem
Prophet — a Mahomet or a Smith ! This state of things is fraught
with the most fearful consequences — the subversion of govern-i
ments; the fall of kingdoms and empires; the destruction of na-'
tions, by the shedding of rivers of human blood ; and, where conse-
quences of a less serious nature accrue, it destroys natural affection,
hardens the heart against the better feelings of our nature, and pro-
duces a state of sava^ barbarity, which causes a civilized man to
shudder, and from which he turns with loathing and disgust.

*^^3d. The standard of morality and Christian excellence with)
them is quite unstable. Joe Smith has but to speak the wordy and \
it becomes the law which they delight to obey — because it comes \
FROM God ! ! ! Acts, therefore, which but yesterday were consid-
ered the most immoral, wicked, and devilish, to-day are the most
moral, righteous, and Godilike, because God, who makes right, has
so declared it by the mouth of his anointed Prophet !

" * 4th. Joe Smith designs to abolish all human laws, and establish |
a Theocracy, in which the word of God, as spoken by his (Joe's) i
mouth, shall be the only law ; and he now orders that his followers I
shall only obey such human laws as they are compelled to do, and ;
declares that the time is at hand when all human institutions shall /
be abrogated ! Joe's will is to become the law of right, and his
poioer is to execute it,

** * 5th. Under the new order of things, all the property of the
Saints, with their wives and little onds, is to be cansecratea to Joe,

13 •

150 BISTORT Of THE SATtTT^.

to Bubserre his purposes and grratify his passions ! These are only
SOME of the reasons which F shall hereafter, when time permits,
consider more in detail ; and, in the mean time, I should like your
opinion on a matter of so much importance to all of our fellow-
citizens.

*« ( With high, considerations of respect and esteem, suffer me to
subscribe myself — Yours, respectfully,

" * John C. Bennett.' "

Ihm ike JSTew York Herald ofAugusl 30, 1843.

«« LATE AND IMPORTANT FROM THE MORMON COUNTRY.

" We have just received a variety of curious, strange, and original
information from this part of the world. Some of it is political,
some financial, some belligerent, some religious, and some personal.

" Among other items we have the following news, which w&s
written on the outside of a letter received on Saturday, at one of
the public offices, from Chicago, Illinois. * A battle has been fought
between the Mormons and Anti- Mormons. The extra says, thirty
or forty were killed or wounded. The Governor has gone down
with 200 men.'

'* In connection with this we have the following letter from the
head-quarters of Joe Smith, the Prophet, -and second Mahomet him-
self: —

" * H£AD-Q,UARTEKs, Nautoo LEGiorT, CiTT OF Nautoo, Jiugust 4, 1842.

"« GENERAL ORDER

" * As General John C. Bennett has retired from the service,
General James Arlington Bennet, the next ranking officer, is hereby
ordered to repair forthwith to the Head-Quarters of the Legion, and
assume the command, accompanied by his chief Aid-de-Canip, Gen-
eral James Gordon Bennett.

" * The requisition from the Executive of Missouri, on the Exec-
utive of Illinois, for the person of the Lieutenant- General, (at the
instance of their accomplice, Dr. John C. Bennett,) for the attempt-
ed assassination of Ex- Governor Boggs, makes it necessary that
fhe most able and experienced officers should be in the field, for if
the demand is persisted in, blood must hashed.

" * By order of Lieut. Gen. Joseph Smith. *

"'Hugh McFall,

** ' Jldjutant- General.

" * This will be conveyed to New York by John Slade, Esq., who
is just leaving the city for the east, to watch Dr. Bennett's move-
ments.'

" In connection with the above, we' have also received the follow-
ing letter from General John C. Bennett, now in this city, enclosing
one firom the brother of Governor Boggs, of Missouri ; we give them
both: —

THE DESIGKS OF MORHONISM. 151

" * New York, Jiagust 27, 18^.

»*' General James Gordon Bennett, LL. D. :
"* Dear Sir,—

" * As you have recently been presented with the ap-
pointment of, and commissioned as, Aid-de-Camp to His Imperial
ijoliness, Joseph Smith, Emperor of the Mormon Empire, with the
rank and title of Brigadier- General, I presume that the perusal of
the enclosed letter from Dr. Joseph O. Boggs will not be uninteresting
to you. I have replied to the communication, and stand in readi-
ness to obey the mandate of Missouri, to testify in the premises.
The Mormon Pontiff shall tremble at the siffht of gathering hosts,
in the days of his captivity, like an aspen leaf in the wilderness.

*' *■ Samtque arUmis ignoblle vulgus ;

Jamque faces et saga volant : furor arma ministrai.*

" ' The rude rabble are enraged ; now the firebrands and stones
are seen to fly about; their fury supplies them with arms.'

<* ' But the Mormon Autocrat should remember the old adage —

^* ' SiJ^e intereunt aUis meditantes necem.*

** ^ Those who plot the destruction of others, very often fall them-
selves the victims.*

" ' Though his touch be as deadly as that of the Bohon Upas, I
will tear the ermine of sanctity from the shoulders of His Pontifical
Holiness, and dim the glory of his mitred head. It may justly be
said of him, as a shawn-bawn once said to a stranger in Ireland, in
speaking of two persons of the names of Pierce and Damer, (com-
paring the Mormon Mahomet to Damer,) — "Damer," said he,
" was worser than Pierce, and Pierce was worser than Damer, and
Damer himself was worser than the Devil."

" * In the face of High Heaven he has perpetrated the blackest
deeds of felony, and in the curling flames of Tartarus shall he drink
the dregs of the culprit's cup.

" * Nothing short of an excision of the cancer of Mormonism will
effect a cure of that absorbing delusion, and the strong arm of mili-
tary power must perform the operation at the edge of the sword^
point of the bayonet, and mouth of the cannon.

" ' Yours, respectfully,

" » John C. Bennett.'

" * IiroErENDSNCS, Avffogt 4, 1843.
" * General J. C. Bennett :
*»*Sir,—

" » I write in behalf of my brother, L. W. Boggs, to
say that Governor Reynolds has demanded Joe Smith und O. P.
Rockwell from the Governor of Illinois. The old indictments against
Smith and others, for murder, arson, burglary, &c., were dismissed
by the prosecuting attorney about two years ago. Affidavits were
made by my brother against both, Rockwell as principal, and Joe
Smith as accessory before the fact. It is to be regretted that you left
St. Louis before the messenger despatched to Illinois teached there ;
you could doubtless have advised him of the best means of securing
Smithed Rockwell.

152 HISTORY OP THE SAINTS.

" * We look for the return of the messenger in the course of ten
days. If he succeeds in securing the men, it will be necessary for
you to come on here immediately. I shall write to you again, as
soon as it is ascertained that they are within the State. In the mean
time, do you endeavor to have all the evidence collected that yoa
think will be required.

" * Yours, respectfully,

" * Joseph O. Boggs.*

" With regard to going out to Nauvoo immediately, we shall state
our views shortly. In the mean time, we shall see, and hear, and
report what reasons General John C. Bennett can advance to-ni^ht
in his discourse that may prevent us from standing by Joe Smith,
until, as he says, blood shall flow."

From the Acm> York Herald,

"MILITARY MOVExMENTS.

" I have just received the following, by military express, from the
Major- General : —

^'Arlington House, August 31, 1842.
"*Sir,—

" ' As the ranking Major-General of the Nauvoo Legion, I
have received a General Order to repair immediately to head-
quarters, and assume the command, accompanied by my principal
Aid-de-Camp, Brigadier-General James Gordon Bennett.

" ' Now, sir, I shall ever hold myself ready to defend the Mormon
people, or any other people with whom I mi^ht be associated,
against mob violence ; but at the same time ieel that I am not
bo^nd to act against the constituted authorities of the State of Illi-
nois, nor of any other State in the Union, nor would I do it were it
for a brother.

, '' * I have transmitted the Order to his Excellency Governor
Carlin for instructions, while, at the same time, I shall repair imme-
diately to Nauvoo, and take command of the Legion, where I expect
you will accompany me, in conformity with its mandate.

" * I should desire no better fun than to despatch you with orders,
on my horse Cicero, among the whiz^g bullets, or blue pills of
Galena.

" * Most respectfully yours, &c.,

** * James Arlington Bennet,
" ' Inspector and Major- General of the Nauvoo Legion.*

*^ Blood and 'ouns, I'll, go. It never shall be said that the blood
of the Bennetts did not rise to the top. Who knows but I may get
one of these glorious bullets in the *calf '.? What would Colooel
Webb say if I disobeyed a military mandate ^ In the mean time, I
highly approve of mv superior in command ascertaining first the
constitutionality of the measure, by direct application to Governor
Carlin, to see if there be any necessity of a veto. But ■till, I mus^

THE DESIGNS OF MOBMONISM. 153

prepare. I have no unifonn. Egad, I mast advertise for proposals.
So here goes : —

"Wanted to Purchase. — A full suit of uniform for an officer
of the rank of Brigadier-General in the Nauvoo Legion ; also, a
fine horse, thirteen hands high, a sword, &c., including a good old
Bible and Prayer-book. NoQiing like being well provided with all
sorts of ammunition."

It does not require Argus eyes to see that General J.
Gordon Bennett has no idea of joining the Mormon Auto-
crat. " The Napoleon of the American Press *^ is too
smart a man, and too wily and shrewd an officer, to think
of risking his precious carcass in the tented field in the
present crisis ; and, in fact, the severe attack of Coup-de^-
Soleil, (the legitimate effects of the scorching rays of the
New Yor-k Sun,) under which he is now laboring, wholly
distibles him for cariip duty. The Scotch Bennetts were
never proverbial for their military prowess; and General
J. ArJingtrin Bennet, who, by the bye, is one of the most
talented and experienced officers in the Union, cannot be
cajoled by a military order from His Imperial Holiness,
through a Jack-Mormon Adjutant-General, into palpable
usurpation and open rebellion against the legal authorities.

From the Mw York Herald qf June 17, 1842.

«« HIGHLY IMPORTANT PROM THE MORMON EMPIRE. — WONDER-
"FUL PROGRESS OP JOB SMITH, THE MODERN MAHOMET.—
"SPREAD OF THE MORMON FAITH, AND A NEW RELIGIOUS REV.
« OLUTION AT HAND.

" By the mails last evening we received a variety of letters and
papers from Nauvoo, the capital of the new religious revolutionary
empire, established by Joe Smith, and also from other towns in
Illinois, exhibiting the extraordinary progress of this most extraor-
dinary people, who call themselves the ' Latter Day Saints.*

** These letters and papers are as follows : — First — A letter from
a United States artillery officer, travelling through Nauvoo, who
oives a most original glimpse of the Mormon movement there.
Second — An extract from the * Sangamo Journal ' of the 3d of June,
a newspaper in favor of the whig party, and opposed to the Mormons
on account of their locofoco tendency, requiring a view of their mil-
itary ororanization. Third — A law of the Mormon city of Nauvoo,
extending toleration towards all religions, even Mohammedan, and
assuming power to legislate for all with imperial nonehaJance.
Fourth — A public meeting of tlie Mormons in Nauvoo, developing
their sentiments and position in the elections in Illinois. FifVh — A

154 ' HISTORY or THE SAINTS.

ft

letter to Mrs. Emma Smith, the wife of the Prophet, from a lady in
Ed wardsville, exhibiting the singular mixture of piety, politics, tact,
and slir^vdness, in those who believe in Mormonism.

'*A11 tnese letters and documents disclose a most extraordinary
movement in human affairs. What they mean, we can hardly tell;
but is it not time for some great religious revolution, as radical as
Luther's, to take place in tlie Christian world ?

" In the early ages of antiquity, before the dates of the monuments
of Egypt, we have distinguished names handed down to us by tra-
dition. Brama, Vishnu, Confucius, Zoroaster, Isis, Osiris, rticlud-
ing Adam, Seth, Noah, Abraham, were the master-spirits of a great
antiquity throughout the ancient world. In later times, we have
Moses and the Prophets, Peter and Paul, and the apostles of Christ
— and even Malmmet, who acknowledged the truth of Christianity.
Each of these movements was a religious revolution, but that which
followed the time of Adam, Seth, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Christ,
and the apostles, has developed the only true system of morals, of
belief, of revelation, of prophecy, of man, of God, of eternity.
When the Christian church was overwhelmed with the follies and
superstition of Rome, and the thousand quarrelling sects of monks
and idlers, a fresh spirit arose in the world — a spark came down
from Heaven — Luther lifled up his voice, and a religious revolution
started at his word, and renovated Christianity. But a new age has
come — a fresh infusion of faith is required — a strong impulse is
rendered necessary.

" May not this wonderful Mormon movement be the signal for a
new religious revolution? Is not Joe Smith its master-spirit, and
Greneral Bennett its military spirit? The vast progress of the last
century, in art and science, through steam and type, has changed
the nature of man and society. Is it not necessary that a new re-
ligion and a new faith should come down from Heaven, to carry out
the destiny of the race, under its present condition ?

" It is very evident that the Mormons exhibit a remarkable degree
of tact, skill, shrewdness, energy, and enthusiasm. The particular
features of their faith are nothing against their success. Do they
believe their new Bible — their virgin revelation — their singular
creed ? If they do so with enthusiasm, and practise their shrewd
precepts, the other sects will fall before them. This is certain —
this is human nature. In Illinois, they have already shown how to
acquire power and influence, by holdmg the balance of power be-
tween both the great parties. They can already dictate to the State
of lUinttis, and if they pursue the same policy m other States, loiU
they not soon dictate to Congress , and decide the Presidency? In
all matters of public concernment, they act as one man, wiUi one
soul, one mind, and one purpose. Their religious and moral princi-
ples bind them together firmly. They may be, and have been, abused
and calumniated — partly true — partly false — but whether true or
falMe, these attacks only increase their popularity and influence.
Unlike all other Christian sects, they adopt, at once, all the modern
improvements of society, in art or literature, and from their singular
religious faith, give the highest enthusiasm to the movement at large.

THE DCS16NS OT MORMONISM. 155

There is nothings odd, or sin^ar, 6t absurd about them, that they
will not cast awaj, if it interteres with their progress to power.

" Verily, verily, we are truly in the 'latter days;* and we
should not be surprised to see that the Mormon religion is the real
millennium already commenced. One thing is certain. The Mor-
mons are so constituted, that, in these temperance times, they will
swallow up all the other lukewarm Protestant sects ; and the moral
and religious world will be divided between the Pope and the Cath-
olics on one side, and Joe Smith and the Mormons on the other.
The oyster is opening, and will soon be equally divided.'

[" Correspondence <tf the Herald,]

« t CiTT or Nautoo, IIHqou, Maf 8, 1843.

"*THE MORMONS, A VERY SINGULAR PEOPLE. — MILITARY, CIV-

««IL, AND UTERARY ORGANIZATION AMBITIOUS VIEWS AND

" * PURPOSES.

"< J. G. Bennett, LL. D.:

^ ' I address you as Doctor, because I am assured that the Univer-
sity of this city has conferred on you the degree of LL. D.; and
this is no small feather in your cap, when we consider the talent and
learning possessed by the faculty of this chartered institution, which
will, before long, be equal, if not superior, to any college in this
country.

" * Yesterday was a great day among the Mormons. Their Legion,
to the number of two thousand men, was paraded by Generals Smith,
Bennett, and others, and certainly made a very noble and imposing
appearance The evolutitms of the troops directed by Major-Gen-
eral Bennett would do honor to auy body of armed militia in any
of the States, and approximates very closely to our regular forces.
What does all this mean? Why this exact discipline of the Mormon
corps? Do they intend to conquer Missouri, Illinois, Mexico ? It is
true they are part of the militia of the State of Illinois, by the char-
ter of their Legion ; but then there are no troops in the States like
them in point of enthusiasm and warlike aspect, yea, warlike char-
acter. Bftforft pn'xny y^r-, ♦htfi F rgion will be twenty, and perh aps
fifty thousand strongr^ and still augmenting. A i'earful host, filled
tvith religious enthusiasm, and lea on Dy ambitious and talented
officers, what may not be effected by them? Perhaps the subversion
of the Constitution of the United States ; and if this should be con-
sidered too great a task, foreign conquest will most certainly follow.
Mexico will fall into their hands, even if Texas should first take it.

"^ These Mormons are accumulating, like a snow-ball rolling
down an inclined plane, which, in the end, becomes an avalanche.
They are also enrolling among their officers some of the first talent
in the country, by titles or bribes, it don't matter which. They have
appointed your namesake. Captain Bennet. late of the army of the
United States, Inspector-General ol their Legion, and he is com-
missioned as such by Governor Carlin. This gen tleman is known
to be well skilled in fortifie^^jffp^g^pnnrY, nrdnaDge,"<^gJatrftl,nptatynry,

156 HISTORT OF TH8 SA»9T8.

and military engineering generally, and I am assured that he is now
under pay, derived fr<»m the tithings of this warlike people. I have
seen his plans fur fortifying Nauvoo, which are equed to any of
Vauban 8.

*'' *■ Gvneral John C. Bennett, a New England man, is the Prophet's
great gun. They call him (though a man about the stature of Na«
poleon) the " forty-two pounder." He might have applied his tait* nts
in a more honorable cause, but I am assured that he is well paid for
the important services he is rendering this people, or, I should ratlier
say, rendering the Prophet. This gentleman exhibits the highest
degree of field military talent, (iiela tactics,) united with extensive
learning. He may yet become dangerous to the States. He was
Quarter-Master- General of the State of Illinois, and at another time
a Professor in the Erie University. It will, therefore, be seen, that
nothing but a high price could have secured him to these fanatics.
Only a part of their officers, regents, and professors, however, are
Mormons ; but then they are all united by a common interest, and will
act together on main points to a man Those who are not Mormons
when they come here, very soon become so, either from interest or
conviction.

** *• The Smiths are not without talent, and are said to be as brave as
lions. Joseph, the chief, is a noble-looking fellow, a Mahomet every
inch of him. The Postmaster, Sidney Rigdon, is a lawyer, philoso-
pher, and Saint. Their other Generals are also menot talents, and
some of them men of learning. I have no doubt that they are all
brave, as they are most unquestionably ambitious, and the tendency
of their religious creed is to annihilate all other sects; you may,
therefore, see that the time will come, when this gathering host of
religious fanatics will make this country shake to its centre. A
western empire is certain. Ecclesiastical history presents no parallel
to this people, inasmuch as they are establishing their religion on a
learned footing. All th«? sciences are taught, and to be taught, in
their colleges, with Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Italian, Spanish,
&c. &c. The mathematical sciences, pure and mixed, are now in
successful operation, under an extremely able Professor, of the name
of Pratt ; and a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, is President of
their University.

^* ' Now, sir, what do you think of Joseph, the modern Mahomet?

^* ' I arrived here, incog., on the first inst., and from the great prep-
aration for the military parade, was induced to stay to see the turn-
nut, which I confess has astonished and filled me with fears for
future consequences. The Mormons, it is true, are now peaceable,
but the lion is asleep. Take care, and don't rouse him.

*' * The city of Nauvoo contains about ten thousand souls, and is
rapidly increasing. It is well laid out, and the municipal afiairs
ap))ear to be well conducted. The adjoining country is a beautiful
prairie. Who will say that the Mormon Prophet is not among the
great spirits of the age .''

" ' The Mormons number, in Europe and America, about one hun -
dred and fifl y thousand, and are c gnstantly pouring int^ Na] |Ynp-""*^
t£e neignodrlng codnUry. There, are, probably, in and about this

TBS OSSIGN8 OF KOilllOHISM. 137

«ity, and adjacent territories, not far from 30*000 of theae warlifc e
fiuaticB, this plape having been settled by them only three ^ears fljfo.

*^ < As Officer of the U. 8. Artillert.

{"^IVom the Sangamo (IlKnois) Jtmrnal.}

** * Since the attempt npon the lifb of Governor Boggs, it has been
feared that some emissaries might visit Nauvoo, for the purpose of
retaliating upon the Mormon Prophet; and for that reason, it is
rumored, a ^uard is now provided for the city. X^^^ official notices
of the establishment of this guard, are given in the " Wasp," which
are here copied : —

" * MjurpR-GENCRAL'a Officb, Xautoo Lsoioif , )
CiTy OF Nautoo, (111.,) May SO, 1842. )

"'To THE Citizens of the Citv of Nauvoo: —

" * I have this day received an order from General
Joseph Smith, Mayor of said city, to detail a regular night watch for
the city, which I have executed, by selecting and placing on dutv
the following named persons, to wit: — D. S. Huntington, W. D.
Huntington, L. N. Scovil, C Allen, A. P. Rockwood, N. Rogers,
S. Roandy, and J. Arnold ; who will hereafter be obeyed and re-
spected as such, until further orders.

"*JoHN C. Bennett, Major-General,**

" * Mayor's Orricx, City of NArvoo, May 20, A. D. 1843.

"To THE City Watch: — v

" < You are hereby directed to appear at my office daily,
at 6 o'clock, P. M., to receive orders, and at 6 o'clock, A. M., to
make reports, until regularly disbanded by the Major-General of
the Legion, by my order. Joseph Smith, Mayor.'' '

»» »

" * From these official notices, it would appear that the Morm<m8
have a government entirely of their own, an army of their own,
Dortions of which are detached on the requisition of the Mayor of
Nauvoo, when be pleases to make a requisition upon tlie command-
ing officer for their services. This is, indeed, a curious state of
things. A Christian sect in Illinois, keeping up a military organi-
zation for their own particular purposes ! What would be thought,
if the Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, or Episcopalians of this
State, had separate military organizations, and that their respective
leg^ions of troops were in constant practice of military discipline ?

'poratioi

ehjoying exclusive privileges, have given rise, latterly, to some public
discussions. ' We have now before us a communication from Mount
Vernon, Jefferson county, in this State, which possesses much in-
terest. It appears from this communication, that the laws in ques-
tion were passed by our locofoco legislature, (a legislature, by the
bye, which professed an utter aversion to zaoxuapaUes in the thap?

14

158 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

of incorporationa,) for political purposes ; that they were passed to
secure the Mormon vote. There can now be no doubt ot the fact,
that the proclamation issued by Lieutenant- General Smith, to his
people, requiring them to vote for Messrs. Snyder and Moore, was
the result of the passage of these laws by the locofoco legislature.

« * AN ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

" ' Sec. 1 . Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Nau-
voo, that the CatiiolicM, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Latter
Day Saints, Quakers, Episcopalians, Universalists, Unitarians, Mo-
hammedans, and all other religious sects and denominations whatever,
shall have toleration and equal privileges in this city ; and should
any person be guilty of ridiculing, abusing, or otherwise depreciat-
ing another, in consequence of his religion, or of disturbing or in-
terrupting any religious meeting within the limits of this city, he
shall, on conviction thereof before the Mayor, or Municipal Court,
be considered a disturber of the public peace, and fined in any
sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not exceed-
ing six months, or both, at the discretion of said Mayor, or Court.

*^ < Sec. 3. This ordinance to take efiTect and be in force from and
ailer its passage. Passed, March 1, A. D. 1841.

"*JoHN C. BxNJfETT, MaXfOT.

*** James Sloan, Recorder,

«« « PUBLIC MEETING.

" * According to previous notice, a very large and respectable
meeting of the citizens of the city of Nauyoo convened at the Tem-
ple ground, on Thursday, the 26th day of May, at one o'clock, P. M.

"*The meeting was called to order by General Bennett, on
whose motion the assembly was duly organized by the appointment
of Greneral Joseph Smith, Chairman, and Colonel James Sloan,
Secretary.

** * The object of the meeting was then stated, in a speech of con-
siderable length, by General Smith, distinctly avowing his intention
not to cooperate or vote with either the whig or democratic parties, .
as such.

" * The meeting then unanimously disapproved of the remarks of
the Quincy Whig, in relation to the participation of General Smith
in the violent death of Governor Bosrgs, of Missouri, and unani-
mously concurred in the opinion that General Smith had never made
such a prediction.

" * General Bennett, at the solicitation of the Chairman, then
spoke at length on State and general politics, and nominated Sidney
Rigdon and Orso^ Pratt, for representatives for the county of Han-
cock, at the approaching August election, which nominations were"
unanimously concurred in by the assembly.

"* George Miller then made a speech, recommending the selection
of a full ticket, which was concurred in ; and George Miller put in
nomination for the State Seriate, from Hancock; Hiram Kimball,
for County CommisBioner; and William Backenstos, for Sheriff.

THE DESIGNS OF MORKONISM. ISO

A committee was then appointed to take the names of the Ie|[al
voters in tiie Naavoo precinct, and report to the next general meet-
ing of the people, on two weeks from this day, at the same time and
place.

*'• * The meeting then adjourned for two weeks.

<* UosKPH Smith, Chairman.

'* ^ Jame« Sloan, Secretary,' "

The Sangamo Journal of July 8, 1842, in commenting
upon the above article, says, —

^^ The. people of this State are well aware of the fact, that the
Mormon College at Naavoo have conferred on J. Gordon Bennett,
the editor of the New York Herald, the degree of Doctor of Laws.
The same paper has been selected by Joe Smith as his organ in
New York city; and the City Council of Nauvoo, by resolutions,
have recommended the Herald to the patronage of the Mormon
Church throughout the country. These facts, with the additional
one that Joe Smith, by some of his followers, carries on a confi-
dential CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE EDITOR OF THE HeKALD,

stamp with authority the statements of that paper in relation to the
policy and designs of Joe Smith.**

Yes, the New York Herald is the Mormon official organ
in the eastern metropolis, and its alien editor the premon'
stration of the Prophet himself. This, together with his
failing to obtain the printing of this Expose^ as contem-
plated, will account for the gratuitous vituperative editorial
attacks of that *^ Napoleon" Editor on the author of
this work. He is likely to be the Chancellor of the
Exchequer in the Cabinet of the Mormon Autocratic
Emperor of the "Western Empire," and perhaps^ the
Dauphin to the regal crmcn! Else why so opposed to
every thing American 1 The Herald Editor is a Mormo-
Catholic, and sustains those two creeds against the Prot-
estant Christian world. That able man could employ his
fine editorial talents to much better advantaore in the ad-
vocacy of unsophisticated truth.

Frtm the Mw York Herald, August 13, 1842:

"RISFNO IN THE WORLD.

" * Since you will baolde Fortune on my back,
To hear her burden whe*er I will or no,
I mu»t have patieoce to endure the load.'

" We are rising very rapidly in this sinfal world. A short time
afo, the Corporation of Naavoo, Illinois, conferred upon us the free-

16D Hi9rOKr ot tab ^Aimrts.

dom of the city. How far this freedom extends we know not, but
we suppose it embraces a vast number of delicious privilkgis,
aeeording to the Mormon creed- The next step was to raise us to the
dignity of I*L. D., a regular Doctor of Laws, by the University of
Nauvoo, an honor which we highly prize, and which is as good, and
perhaps better, than that conferred on General Jackson by the Uni-
versity of Harvard, or that on His Excellency, Edward Everett, by
the University of Cambridge, in England. But this is not all. Yes-
terday, — blessed be the day ! — we received by a special messenger
from Illinois, the intelligence that that State had gone entirely for
the Mormons and locofbcos, in the elections ; and also an enclosure
which contained the parchment, conferring a high milUary rank
upon vs, of which document the following is a true copy — the
original being in our salamander safe, with the titles of the Herald
building : —

'' < Thomas Carlin, Governor of the State of Illinois, to all to
whom these presents shall come, greeting :

^<*Know ye, That J^mes Gordon Bennett having been duly
elected to the office of Aid-de-Camp ^witb the rank and title of Briga-
dier- General) to the Major- General of the Nauvoo Legion of me
Militia of the State of Illinois, I, Thomas Carlin, Governor of said
State, for apd on behalf of the People of said State, do commission
him Aid-de-Camp to said Major-General, with rank and title as afore-
said, to take ranK from the twentv-eighth day of May, 1842. He is.
therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duties of said
office, by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto be-
longing ; and I do strictly require all officers and soldiers under
his command to be obedient to his orders ; and he is to obey such
orders and directions as he shall receivo from time to time from his
Commander-in-Chief, or his superior officer.

'^ * In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused
the Great Seal or State to be hereunto affixed. Done at Springfield,
this second day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and forty-two, and of the Independence of the United
States the sixty-sixth.

" * By the Governor, " » Tho. Carlin.

'' *• Ltman Trumbull, Secretary of State.'

*< There's honor — there's distinction — there's salt and greens for
a modest, simple, calm, patient, industrious editor. We now take
legitimate rank, far above Colonel Webb, Major Noah, Colonel
Stone, General George P. Morris, or all the military editors around
and about the country. We are only inferior in rank — and that
but half a step — to good old General Jackson — he being Major-
General and LL. D. — we beinff Brigadier and LL. D. also.

<'In an hour ailer the arrival of this precious document, but be-
fore I received it, I found myself two inches taller, three inches
more in circumference, and so wolfish about the head and shoulders
that I could have fought a duel with Marshall, provided he had
given me the same terms on the ' bandanna handkerchief plan *

THE DESIGNS OF MORMORISM. I6l

that he generously gave to Colonel Webh. It vitM n& doubt caused
by the* military title approximattng to its owner. ' God tempers the
wind to the shorn lamb ' — the devil heats the fire to suit the sinner,
and I must bear the honors that are thickening around me.

*^ It w\\\ be seen, therefore, that 1 am Atd-de-Campf with the rank
of Brigadier-General, to the Major- General of the famous Nauvoo
Legion.. This Major- General is no less a man than the Prophet Jok
Smith, who is very busy establishing an original religious empirs
in the loesty that may swaUoto up all &e other different sects and clk^ues,
as tlie rod of Mose^, turned into a serpent, swallowed up, without
salt, the rods of Jannes and Jambies, and the other magicians <2f
K^ypt. Heavens ! how we apples swim, as the sprat said to the
wnale. Mount Etna bawling out at the same time, * Let's have another
segar. Wonders will never cease. Hereafter, I am James Gordon
Bennett, Freeman of the Holy City of Nauvoo, LL. D. of the
University of Nauvoo, and Aid-de-Camp to the Major- Greneral, and
Brigadier-General to the Nauvoo Legion, with a fair prospect of
being a prophet soon, and a saint in heaven hereafter."

It will be seen by the foregoing from the New York
Herald of August 13, 1842, (the very day on which
** The (Nauvoo) Wasp " publisheid the famous Algerine
Habeas Corpus Ordinance, (a very remarkable coinci-
dence,) that the Editor of the Herald (Joe^s official
ORGAN IN THE east) has been constituted one of the
general officers of the Nauvoo Le gion of near three
th ousand regular troops, ahd, aS Obe oFthe Cabinet Min-
tsters (the Keeper of the Privy Seal) of the Mormon
Emperor, fully intrusted with the secrets of the Admin-
istration : consequently aH who do not savor strongly of
MoRMONtSM may expect to have the vials of the Heralds
fierce urrath and fiery indignation poured out upon their
devoted heads, without mixture and in great fury. Upas's
richest sap will not be half so deadlt. / am
prophet enough to foretell that. So, —

** Lay on, Macduff,
And damned be he who first cries, Hold ! enough ! "

' **The time was when we supposed Mormonism too great an
absurdity to be received by any person of common sense, who be-
lieved the Bible. But we know no system of error was ever broached
too monstrous to be believed, by any one. All the impostures ever
concocted, have, in their time, had their advocates. And no system
of ^aticism, in any previous age, has combined so many /otoZ errors

14*

16S fildtORT or THE SAINTS.

as this MorAionism, which has been delineated in these extracts.
Here you have it, as plain as language can make it, that Mormonism
authorizes and approves the most horrid crimes which it is possible
for any one to perpetrate. Deception, lyings frauds thefts plunder y
arson, treason, and murder, are among tne crimes which have char-
acterized this miserable delusion.

**• And will it be said that these deluded creatures committed these
dreadful crimes in self-defence ? Treason, theft, and murder, in self-
defence ? What kind of religion is that which leads its votary to
perpetrate such crimes under the pretence that he is doing it in self^
defence .? The truth is. Mormons believe that the whole of this coun-
try belongs, of right, to them ; and they are training their followers,
and preparing them, to obtajn possession of the country, either hy
• purchase or oy blood,* We may laugh at these as idle pretensions,
and persuade ourselves that they cannot amount to any thing. So
the ffood people of the west thought ; but we now see that Mormon-
ism nas actually involved one portion of our land in all the horrors
of a civil war. And what it has done in Missouri it will do in other
places, just as soon as it can find a sufficient number silly enough
to yield their hearts and property to its unreasonable, unscripturali
and wicked claims." — Mormonism Exposed, pp. 63, 64.

ORGANIZATION AND DOCTRINE OF THE

MORMONS.

Professor Turner, in his " Mormonism in all Ages,"
published by Piatt and Peters, (from which I quote more
liberally than I otherwise should, in order to give my ..
readers a fair sample of. the great ability and superiOT
excellence of that work, the purchase of which I strongly
recommend to all the patrons of my Expose, as being one
of the most correct expositions of the Mormon dehasion
now extant,) says, —

" The *■ Latter Day Saints ' have two distinct classes of argu-
ments, which they advance in their own behalf. One class is to
prove the divine authority of Smith's book, the other to show the
necessity and superiority of the peculiar organization, doctrines,
and discipline, or their Church. *

" The apostolic and democratic simplicity of their Church gov-
ernment will first claim our attention.

" They have two distinct orders of church dignitaries: 1. The
MsLcnizEOEc, or High Priestiiood, consisting of High Priests and
Elders ; 2. The Aaronic, or Lesser Priesthood, (consisting of Bishops,

OBGANIZAXION AND OOCT^INK. 163

Frietts, 'Teachera, and Deacons. The former preside over the spirit-
ual interests of the Church ; the latter administer its ordinances, and
manage its temporal concerns.

" Tiiree of Uie Melchizedec or High Priests are appointed Presi-
dents, to preside over all the churches in all the world. They are
called the First Presideficy.

*> The church in Jackson county. Mo., is called ' Zion,* and is
Ml to become the ffreat centre, both of gathering and of ruling ; at
least so says Smith s divinity. Governor Bo^gs seems to be of a dif^
ferent opinion. Which knows best, it is hard to say.

^^ Other churches, established by revelations given to Smith, are
called * Stakes of Zion,' or simply * Stakes.' Hence the Stakes at
Kirtland, Nauvoo, &c.

*' Each of tlvese Stakes, also, is ruled by a subordinate Presidency,
of three High Priests, whose jurisdiction is confined to the limits of
the Stake. t

" The divine i^pointment of these Stakes, in new regions, gives a
fine opportunity of speculating in town lots.

'" They have also a High Council, consisting of twelve High
Priests, and constituting the court of ultimate appeal, at each Stake.
The Bishop and his two Counsellors, from the Lesser Priesthood, con-
stitute the court of immediate jurisdiction, for the first trial of trans-
gressors, and for administering thin^ temporal at each Stake.

" A travelling High Council, consisting also of twelve High Priests,
and called the * Tioelve Apostles,' are sent forth with power to preach
the gospel to all the world, and to discipline and govern all un-
organized churches. One of these is called *■ President of the
Twelve.'

'^ The first, second, and third < Seventies,* consisted of seventy
Elders each, whose duty it was to preach the Mormon gospel abroad,
under the direction of the Twelve Apostles.

" In addition to these dignitaries, there is an innumerable host of
Bishops, Elders, Priests, Deacons, &c, employed by the Church,
either to edify the ^ Saints ' at home, or to gain proselytes abroad.
Each of these fimiishes himself with the Book of Covenants and
Pratt's Voice of Warning, from which they are soon able to acquire
at once their proof-texts, their logic, and their faith.

" T^e First Presidency, the High Council, and each of the Sev-
enties, have the right to discipline their own members, within their
respective limits, and a decision of either body is final, and rever-
sible only at the General Council of all the bodies conjointly.

" The. High Priests, Elders, and Priests, travel and preach ; but
Teachers and Deacons are the stationary ofiicers of the Church.

" All these functionaries are created, and, according to the doc-
trine and teaching of Smith, can be removed, at any time, by the
voice of their constituents, the people.

" All this is so purely and beautifully democratic, that the Saints
seem to forget that their democratic monarch. Smith, has reserved
ezclusively-to himself the role right of receiving and promulgating^
reveUtions from the Lord, touchmg even the most minute pf all the
interests of the Church, to which, of course, they ars ever to yield

164 HISTOaY OF TH£ SiJMTS*

the most implicit obedience, on penalty of eternal damnatioa.
Hence — though, as Smith tells them, all these functionaries are
merely their servants — Joe Smith himself is virtually the God both
of them and their servants, for his voice is the voice of God in all
things, great and small, whenever he chooses to call it so ; and that,
too, in spite of the conmiand of God, given March, 1829, and found
in the Book of Covenants, 158. By turning to that same revelation,
as it stands on the tenth pa^ of the first edition of the Book of
Commandments, published m 1833, before the Prophet saw fully
what powers it would be convenient for him to assume in the
Church, the reader will see that, at the end of the second verse,
God commands Smith to pretend to * no other gift ' except to trans-
late, and expressly declares that he will ^ grant him no other gift,*
Doubtless the Prophet thought this sufficient at the time. But, in
publishing the second edition, two years ailer, it was found expe-
dient to add a saving clause or two, so as effectually to annihilate at
once the command and the promise, and leave Smith still free to
usurp whatever power he pleased. The second edition is mads
to read thus : ' I have commanded that you should pretend to
no other ^ift ' (sjive to translate) ' until my purpose is fulfilled in
tfiis,' * for 1 will grant you no other gift until it is finished.' The
words in Italics are interpolated in th^ second edition, but not found
in the first. Doubtless this was a mere correction of the type, like
the taking away of a whole page of the preface from the second
edition of the Book of Mormon. Smith did not see the necessity
of correcting the type in '33, but in '35 it became apparent. The
power of a simple translator was too narrow for the exigency of the
times. It would have been well for the world if Smitn's divinity,
instead of giving him a pair of stone spectacles, had given him a
divine printer, and a divine press, and such types that he might
have been enabled to fix the meaning of his inspired revelations, so
that it would be possible to let them stand, at least two years, without
abstracting, interpolating, altering, or garbling, to suit the times.
But the ways of Smith s providence are indeed mysterious. We
will not pretend to judge. The Prophet needed other ^ifts, and he
took them ; not by piecemeal, but by wholesale , or rauier, he had
already taken them before.

** In a revelation given to Smith, April 6, 1830, the very day the
first Mormon church of six was organized at Fayette, New ^rk,*
Smith is appointed * Seer, Translator, Prophet, Apostle of Jesus
Christ, ana Elder of the Church, through the will of Grod, the
Father, and the ^race of our Lord Jesus Christ.' He is also de-
clared to be < inspired of tlie Holy Ghost, to lay the foundation of
the Church, and build it up in the most hoty faith ; ' and the Church
is commanded to keep a perpetual record of these titles.

Wherefore, the Church shall give heed to all his loords and com^

t( (

mandments, which he shall give unto you : for his word shall ve
receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faiUi.' Again,
on page 88, the First President is to preside over the whole Church,

• B. C, 177.

OROAmZXTHMS AND Z>OCTRINE. 16S

and be Hke uttto Moses, to be a Seer, Revelator, Translator, Prophet,
having all the gifts which God bestows upon the head of the

*' These are the moderate qualifications, indispensable, in order to
be even a candidate for the office of First President of the Mormon
Church. But, in a reyelation given February, 1831, page l:d6,
Smith's divinity confers on him not only the exclusive right to receive
and give forth commandments from the Lord, but tuso pow^r to
appoint his successor ; and the Church are commanded to *■ uphold
him, to appoint him, to provide him food and raiment, and whatsoever
things he needeth to accomplish his work,' with threats for disobe*
dience, as usual. Hence, none but Smith, or his appointed suc-
cessor, can ever be elected to stand at the head of the Church, with-
out direct disobedience and rebellion against the Mormon God, that '
is, Joe Smith.

'^ In a revelation of September, 1831, page 145, all Smith's digni*
ties and titles are conferred on him for life. Trae, he may be
removed for misconduct ; but who is to judge ? The Lord, surely ;
but by whose mouth P By the mouth of his servant, Joseph Smith !
This IS first-rate democracy, to say nothing of apostolic humility and
simplicity.

" In a revelation, page 111, the world is informed of what they
very well knew before, that Joe Smith * had no strength to toork,*
though he is one of the best wrestlers in the county. Therefore
the churchesi are commanded to support him, with the usual bene-
dictions and cursings. See also Book of Commandments, 181,
where the Church are commanded to obey him, even as Aaron.
By comparing also the revelation on pa^ 214 with the * Times and
Seasons,' Vol. II , No. 7, pases 305 ancr307, the reader will see that
Smith has the power of holding the keys cf the kingdom of God
forever, and that this is only the modest power of eternal salvation
or- damnation over the flock, the same as is arrogated by the spiritual
dewsendant of St. Peter at Rome^ and is to be perpetuated to the
spiritual descendants of brother Jose, the democratic General at
Wauvoo.

" So much for the beautiful symmetry, simplicity, and freedom of
Mormon democrac^r, 'Vnd the admirable consistency, humility, pa-
tience, and self-denial of their servant, the Prophet Joseph Smith,
Jr., Greneral of Nauvoo Militia, 'and head of the Church throughout
Hie earth.

'* According to reports from England, it appears that they there
have about one church dignitary, of some sort, to every ten private
members. In the early history of the Church in this country, the
proportion was much greater. Here lies the secret of their success ;
every thing in the shape of a man, that can ^alk and carry his
catechisms, is forthwith dubbed High Priest, Elder, or Apostle, (or
something large,) and sent forth to trudge and beg, with a single
comrade, in quest of adventure and proselytes. This arrangement
operates at once as a motive and a means of conquest. Every
elected or discontented dunce, in other denominations, feels sure
that, if he joins the Mormons, he shall be dubbed a knight of the

166 HISTORY OF THE SAlKTS.

^tar, and may in turn trudge forth in quest of new apostles, until
perchance he tires in his new labors, or fails of his full share of
blushing honors, do^s the badges of the apostle for the sackcloth of
the apostate, and yields up his faith in Joe Smith, for faith in nothing
save his own folly and delusion.

" We will nezt consider some of the fundamental doctrines of the
Church.

" 1. The nature of faUk. Their doctrines, on this fundamental
item of all religion, may be seen at large in the first part of the Book
of Covenants. There can be no doubt that faith, or rational belief^
in things not seen, is the foundation of all power, all energy, all
efficiency, and all good, temporal and eternal, so far aB man is con-
cerned. But when we are referred to Heb. zi. 3, to prove that faith
enabled God to create the world, it shocks all reason, and all com-
mon sense. The apostle tells us that ibe understand it through faith,
not that God created the world through faith.

*'' Most will admit also, that it is probable that the first idea of a
Supreme Being has travelled down from Adam, to whom it was
given by direct revelation. But does it follow from this, that our
belief in a Supreme Being rests, either in whole or in, part, on mere
human testimony.' Doubtless our parents first suggested to our
minds the idea of a supreme Divinity. But with the tieavens over
our heads, and the earth under our feet, all declaring and demon-
strating his being, and glory, and power, do we still believe it on
the bare ground of human testimonv ? If so, we must be dolts in-
deed. This is as though one should maintain that his belief in the
existence of the sun rested on human testimony, because, forsooth,
his father happened first to point it out to him.

" The writer next proceeds to show that we also come to the
knowled^ of the moral attributes of God by revelations made to
men, which we receive on the mere ground of human testimony.
This is like believing that the sun is warm, because our grandfathers
sat under his beams and have told us so. Suppose that we found,
from our own actual individual experience, that God was, in- all
possible ways, constantly endeavoring to deceive and torment us,
mstead of endeavoring to do us good, bour by hour, and day by day;
should we, forsooth, in that case, believe tffat he was wise, and

g>od, and holy, because he had condescended to tell our grand-
thers so.' No; — we believe that God is good, not on human
testimony, nor yet on his own testimony, for we must first know
that he is good, before we can rationally believe a word he says.
But we believe that he is good, because we observe and experience
the results of his goodness in our own persons every hour of our
lives.

** We have been more explicit in our remarks on the first lour
lectu^s on faith, because we perceive here a sort of entering wedge
to the whole system of Mormonism. The absurd and contemptible
sophisms, in these four chapters on faith, are intended to lie as an
immovable foundation to the whole system. Hence, by a sort c^
logical agony, the profound effort was made, by beginning away
bwk at the creation, with the fundamental idea of a ust cause, and

ORGANIZATION AND DOCTRINE. 167

grftdoally and carefully creeping along up, with their new doctrine
of faith, tJirough all the divine attributes, to the sublime conclusion,
that all religious faith does and must, from the very nature of things,
rest on the contemptible foundation of mere human testimony. Hut
the final end, the inevitable conclusion, from all this Jesuitical
sophistry, is cautiously and prudently suppressed, until a more
suitable opportunity for its development. We think it a good time
now to drag this detestable inference forth from its hiding-place, and
to present the whole syllogism in broad daylight, where ail men may
at once both see and detest, not only th^ sopliism, but the meanness
of its authors. It is this: All faith, even in a Supreme Being,
rests of necessity on mere human testimony for its foundation.
£rgo, (now comes the real inference, meanly suppressed,) therefore
you MUST BELi&VE IN JoE Smith, Martin Harris, Oliver Cow-
dery, and David Whitmer, or whatever other ' knaves, dupes, or
debauchees,' choose to draw on a long face and come to you in the
name of tlie Lord.

** This is the sublime logic of the first four chapters on faith ! !
And the knavery and hypocrisy of omitting the necessary, inevita-
ble, and intended inference from the whole, are surely not the least
detestable parts of the effort.

'* We believe neither in God, nor in his attributes, nor in any part
or portion of divine revelation, on the ground of mere human testi-
mony, and we never shall, so long as we retain our common sense;
but we brieve in all these on much higher ground than the mere
conjoint testimony of even the whole^ human race, as has been
shown.

'* Much less shall we believe in the testimony of those whom this
professed Prophet of the Lord himself has pronounced ^ liars, deb-
auchees, and asses.' Nor shall we believe in the lying, money-
digging, drunken deceiver, who duped them to give their testimony
to such contemptible gibberish as the Book of Mormon.

" The reader will pardon our extended notice of this puerile doc-
trine of faith. It is not worth discussing, J am well aware ; but I
had the edification of the Saints ifi view. Besides, it is fundamental
in Mormonism, as well as in some other fanaticisms.

" The fourth lectin^ on faitli treats of the Trinity, or rather of
the Duality, as they explain it. We commend it to the careful
perusal of those who think they can understand and explain the
precise mode in which the Supreme Intelligence of the universe
exists, as readily as they can the properties of an ellipse or a triangle,
and who are enabled to expound and adjujit all the powers and re-
lations of the Trinity, with the same facility that they can the vari-
ous compartments of an hour-glass.

*' We presume a criticism on this paragraph of Mqrmon faith,
from such exalted geniuses, who, by the mystic aid of ' substances'
and 'essences,' are enabled to solve what angels cannot compre-
hend, would be amusing, if not important to tHe public. We leave
it to them.
- "In the sixth lecture on faith, the proposition is announced and

168 HISTORY OF THE SlUrT&.

maintained, that men know their acceptance with God ' only throngii
the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things.' Verse 7.

'< In the first place, we would inquire, What is meant by *the
sacrifice of all eartlily thin^/ if our eternal reward is to consist in
similar things — eternal cities, eternal gold, and eternal farms, in-
stead of temporal cities, gold, and farms? A^ain : Are these sacri-
fices of all worldly things to be made at the oidding of Joe Smith
and his counsellors ? Are we to yield them up to God through their
hands, or are we not ?

" The language of these exhortations would be well enough, were
they not in known connection with the ends and aims of Sinitii and
his comrades. But as it is, the plain meaning i,8 this : You must
give up all worldly things to God, as an indispensable condition of
salvation. Very well — agreed. But who is to inform us of what
tilings God has need ? Why, the Lord's Prophet at Nauvoo, to be
sure. And to whom are we to pay it over ? To the Lord's servants
at Nauvoo. Ml our wealth, according to the first edition of the
Book of Covenants, and part of it omy, according to the second
edition. Very well. All this is nice. We think we will take our
chance of salvation on some other ground.

^^ This lecture on the sacrifice of all things, we are informed, is
so plain, that the customary catechism upon it at the end is deemed
unnecessary. We have- supplied one, with appropriate answers,
which v^e would respectfully commend to the * Saints,' to be ap-
pended to the next edition of this plausible lecture. It would con-
stitute a better typographical correction than the Prophet is wont to
make in his revelations, even where he adds whole pages to the
original text. The student is also advised, by the Mormons, to
commit the whole lecture to memory, it is so important. We adr
vise him to do the same, and to take our catechism with it, since
the Prophet has supplied none. The concluding, seventh lecture
on faith we would also commend to theological mystics and system-
mongers of all creeds. Faith here is made to mount up into regions
where tliey delight to soar. We fear we should fall from the giddy
height. ' We choose, then, to stand on terra firma, and stretch up
our necks, to see how other geese rise and fly through these aerial
heights.

" We have already noticed the fundamental do^a and final ex-
hortation of Mormonism, and of all other spurious creeds, viz.,
You must believe on mere human testimony, and then give all you
have to God's appointed witnesses of the faith; we have dragged
them forth from their lurking-places by the incipient catechism on
faith, and that is all we can do at present.

*'' The next move of the Mormons, afler having thus got a firm
foothold upon the credulity of their followers, is to remove one in-
superable objection to their scheme, viz., utter want of all accred-
ited or rational evidence that it is from God. This tliey do, bv
denying: that the miracles of the Bible were wrought of old by Grodf,
in attestation of the veracity of his servants, before the world ; but
they affirm that they were wrought simply iat the benefit of thoM
who believe, or the Saints.

OBOANIZATION AMD BOCTBINE. 169

^ To prove this, instead of takin^f the Bible literallj, where Moses
is said to have wrought signs to show that he was cooimissioncd of
God, and also in John x. 37, zv. liM, Acts ii. 3, and numberless
other passages, on almost every page of the Bible, where even
Christ hiuuelf is repitesented as commanding the Jews not to take
nim at his word, but to look at his works, oi miiacles, becaase * he
that beareth witness of himself is not true ; * all these they virtually
deny, or contradict, and then tell us that they take them literally.
Still, they contend that there can be no true church on earth, with-
out prophets, apostles, power of miracles, gifts of tongues, of heal-
ing, etc. etc., and that their Church alone possesses these.

** These extravagant dogmas and absurd claims, common to all
impostors, in all ages, they base on the following passages of Scrip-
ture. It is said in Mark xvi. 17, *■ These signs shall follow them
that believe,' (enumerating the signs.) They fall into a mistake
here, which is common to Siem and all other fanatics, viz., that of
understanding all that was said by Christ and his apostles to their
hearers, as of course said to them. Hence they infer that these signs
were to follow, not only those who believed on the twelve apostles,
as the text literally asserts, and as was the case at the day of Pente-
cost, and on various other occasions, but, forsooth, they maintain
tJiat these signs were to follow all those who should afterwards be-
lieve the gospel, in all ages of the world, which the text does not
assert. This they call a UXerai interpretation. But when we grant
them this position, and say. Very well ; bravo ! now show us the
siffns, and we will believe ; their ready reply is, ' A wicked and
adulterous generation seeketh for a sign, and verily there shall no
sign be given them ; ' and here they stop, forgetting to refer us to
any past or future sign, as the Savior referred those whom he re-
buked in this passage, because they had before refused to look at
the multitude of signs he had already given them.

^ And now, for a long time, the teeth of the Mormons have been
chattering with the a^ue, induced by the trials of poverty and want,
which have been brpught upon them by their frequent removals
frotn place to place, and the stone temple, baAk stock, mercantile,
prairie land, and tavern-house speculations of the Lord's Prophet
and his compeers ; and their teetn still chatter, and their bones still
burn and ache, though they alone, of all others, possess the mirac-
ulous gifts of healing, given, as we are assured, for the express
purpose of comforting the Saints on earth, and for no other purpose.

" But all this, we are told, is because, forsooth, after ten years'
trial, they cannot bring their faith up to the sticking- point necessary
to cure this ague. And yet we are told that sometimes they achieve
wonders with the hysterics and the * blues,' which we believe are
the only kind of devils they have ever succeeded in casting out.

*'*' We are assured, also, that there can be no church, without
j[m>phet8 and apostles. We ask them to prophesy ; and the Prophet,
m 1831, points us to the destruction which awaits the Mormons m
the eastern country, and withdraws them from impending ruin to
Mount Zion, Jackson county, Missouri, the everlasting possession

15

17d BISTORT or TH8 SAINTS.

of the Saints, the fairie land of Mormon faith, MonnoB peace, and
Monnon blias.*

*^ We ask theiii, Whom did the apostles appoint as their snc^
cessors in their apostleship, and whether it was not their fault that
the office ended with them? The Mormons make no reply.

^^ Again, we ask, Who is empowered to revive the Inng-lost
succession ? Alt caps are thrown up, and all voices at once shoot,
*> Joe Smith ! Joe &mith ! ! He is the Prophet of the Lord ! * . He
holds both the keys and the cash of the Church, though, as we have
seen, he once, in time of danger, committed the sword to his favorite
mastiflT.

** To cap the climax of these absurdities. Parley Pratt contends
that the general commission referred to in Mark, to preach the gos-
pel, was liuiited to those who heard it, while the many signs that
were to follow are granted to all coming generations ! ! So that,
while we must all wait for a new revelation to preach, we all have
liberty to cast out devils as soon as we believe ! ! f I hope he will not
complain that I have omitted the former, and am trying my hand at
the latter.

" They next refer to 1 Cor. xii., which they expound with mar-
vellous ability.

'* From the rear of this invaluable breastwork of logic. Parley
opens an inspired cannonade of commingled metaphysics, eloquence,
and pathos, and concludes with the prayer * that the vision should
be shut up ; ' in which prayer, all men of common sense, I presume,
will heartily unite. So here we drop it.

*■ I would just suggest that be and all other Mormons have
forgotten to read and interpret, literally, the apostle's argument
tiirough, to the end of the I3th chapter of 1 Curinlhians. They
are particularly silent upon that verse in which the apostle ttays,
literally, that prophecies shall fail, and tongues shall cease, and all
else but faith, (not Mormon faith, we presume,) hope, and charity.

" The outlines of their despotic hierarchy have already been pre-
sented. The names indeed of their several orders and offices are
found in the Scriptures. But that the name is nothing, and the
powers of an office every thing, some other apOstoIic sects would do
well to learn, as well as the Mormons. We look in vain for the
origin of the definite powers of such hierarchies, baptized with Scrip-
ture names, except in ihe crania of their respective eodfathers. In
tliis case, Jotteph Smith, Jr., General of Nauvoo Militia, happens
to be the man.

** The system also establishes a somewhat more perfect despotism
than has been reached by any other hierarchy. It concentrates all
power in tiie person of the valorous translator. This is the principal
difference between the Joe Smith of Illinois, and other Joe Smiths
who have trodden the path of hierarchal fame before hiiu. - They,
one and all, from Pope Linus downward, demonstrate the divine

* See B. C, p. 151, 13; p. 190, 9; p. 193, 1 j p. 194, 9; p. 139, 11, 19, 13; p.
154 1 3.
t*See Voics of Warning, p. 113.

ORGANIZATION AND DOCTRINE. 171

origin of their retigioas oligarchies from Scripture, because, forsooth,
the names with which tbev have chosen to christen their several
functionaries are found in tnat sacred vuiame. The progress which
Joseph has made in the di?ine favor, since the typographical cor-
rection of that unluckv revelation, ' Thou shalt aspire to no other
giil, save to translate, may be seen from an enumeration of his
accumulating titles in the Book of Covenants, 177 and 8d, also^
at the close of the former.

"The next chapter on the fundamental doctrines of Mormonism,
which we shall notice, is ^ the witness of the Spirit,' as ihey term it.
This is always the last resort. Afler running the whole round of
argument, discu^ing the merits of Joseph's i>ough, and its literal
leap across the wall of the Atlantic Ocean; glancing at the upspring-
inj^r truth and downlooking righteousness of David; brandishing,
with triumphant flourishes, the two sticks of Exekiel ; gazing at tlie
angel flying awav with the Book of Mormon ; and having appealed
to Mark's iimitea charter fi>r preaching the gospel, and general per-
mission to cast out devils, there is a solemn pause. You ask for a
sign ; but verily no sira shall be given you. You demand proof;
the ready reply is, * I Know that Mormonism is true, for God has
revealed it to me, in my soal.' Very good ; but how shall I know
it.^ *Ask in faith, as I have done, and it shall be given you.*
That is, first believe it, then ask, and then you shall know it is true.
To require this process is much the same as to require one to eat his
dinner raw, and to cook it afterwards.

** By this patent mode of procedure, both Pratt and Rigdon assure
us that they discovered ultimately that what they had at first pro-
nounced a base fabrication, was indeed a new and wonderful revela^
lion firom God. It should be noticed, here, that asking in faith,
according to the Book of Covenants, is actual believing; for* whore
doubt and uncertainty is,' say they, * there faith is not, nor can be.' *
Doubtless any one might discover the truth of any thing in the
same way.

*'The fanatical doctrine of the Spirit is more fully discussed upon
another page.t We only repeat, here, that the man who neglects the
employment of the written word, natural reason, and conscience,
which God has given him for his guidance, and yields himself up to
his own internal impulses and fantasies, from that moment throws
himself out from under the guidance of God, and yields himself up
to the guidance of darkness and delusion. And the spirit of darkness
will not be slow to instruct and guide him in whatever way he sees
fit. He will soon know, with dogmatical assurance, every thing in
the universe, save one, viz., that lie himself has become a religious
lunatic, bereft of all common sense.

*< I have reserved one choice specimen of * Mormon logic and
literal interpretation of the Scriptures,' with which to grace the
climax of this Mormon Babel. I have done this, partly because it
holds and deserves the highest place in the system, and partly be-
cause I wish so to hold it up, that all men may look at this hideous

• B. C, 63, 13. t ^* Momwiiiim in all Agti, pp. 115, 116.

172 SISTOBY or THE SAINTS.

and blasphemous abortion of all Scripture, all reason, aU deeeBcj,
and all sense.

^* Christ prayed, say they, that all the saints might be one with him
and the Father. He has declared, also, that they are joint heirs with
him, and shall sit down with him on his throne, as he has overcome
and sat down with the Father on his throne ; that to those that be-
lieve, all things are possible, &c. Now, what logical, literal, and
inspired inference, are we to make from this ? Whv, truly, nothing
else than that the saints are all to become eqaal with €rod himself! >
in knowledge, and power, and glory, equal to the Father ! ! But
this is not all ; Christ assured his disciples, that they should do even
greater things than these. Theretpre, say they, we shall create,
uphold, redeem,, save, and reign forever, over still greater worlds
than this which Christ governs!!*

^* This is almost as literal as the bough and the wall, the two
sticks, and the flying angel. What part the ^ liars, knaves, swin*
dlers, debauchees, and asses,' (who bore witness to, and constitute the
foundation of the Book of Mormon, and on whose shoulders the
whole superstructure rests,) are to have in these displays- of Mormon

flory, we are not definitely told. But since, accordion to Mormon
octrine, they have been the principal means pf turnmg many to
righteousness, doubtless they will shine as stars somewhere in this
new firmament of gods, higher than the Highest.

^* Surely, when this notable day shall come, all things will be
created new, with a vengeance ! ! We see here what it is that in-
spires the ardor and inflates the zeal of the idiot multitude of that
professed Church. They are to possess the fulness and wealth of the
earth here, and reign with Christ in Mouat Zion. Missouri, a thou-
sand years, and hereafter they are to become, not demigods, but
literal deities, one and all of them. Why , then, talk about sacrifices ?
They can afford to empty their pockets into the cofiers of Smith and
Company, and to traver^se the world, barefoot, in quest of new Zions
and new proselytes, with such a splendid reversion in prospect.

^* But every Mormon is not only to be a God hereafter ; ne has, in
his own belief, been a demigod from all eternity, or at least an angel
heretofore.

"Their sublime faith teaches them that their action and destiny
here are the result, and can be explained only upon the admission,
of their existence and action beiore they inhabited their present
bodies. This notion, however, does not distinctly appear in their
published revelations. It was at one time promulgated, but from its
unpopularity, their leaders suppressed the full development of their
peculiar scheme of preexistence until faith on the earth should
mcrease.t

*' These general theories oi humanity enable them, as they think,
to give a full and literal interpretation to the language of Scripture,
which, without these enlarged views, as they call them, of the origin
and destiny of man, are utterly inexplicable. Reader, remember &t

* See Pratt's Truth Vindicated, p. 27.
t 9. C, 311, 115.

OBfiAHlSATION AND DOCTBINE. 178

when yoQ meet a full-blooded Mormon, yoa meet an angel that toaSf
a Mormon that is, and a God that is to be. As in the case of the
man who fell down stairs, and ran up again, you will find the lowest
point in the climax in the middle of his career.

" Probably, however, not one Mormon in fifty knows what is really
taught in their own sacred books, in preachmg and writing creecfs
in new places, they do not generally even allude to the peculiarities
of Mormonism as such. They take their texts, and preach a some-
what peculiar form of Christianity, which, in truth, is as much like
the Mormonism at Nauvoo, as it is like paganism, and no more so.
This, at first, they call Momumiam. But the doctrines of their
■acred books and teachers are quite another thing. Every believer,
either in Smith or the Book of Mormon, must believe that that book
and the Book of Covenants, or revelations to Smith, are on a level
with the Bible, and that all who thus receive them will be saved, and
that all others will be damned.*

<*2. They believe the Bible only as Smith interprets and explains,
or new translates and supplies the lost parts.t

'^ 3. They believe in four different future states ; the celestial, te-
lestial, terrestrial, and the lake of fire.t

'* if Uie reader has doubts on any of these points, he is requested
to compare the pages and passa^res cited in proof with care.

**4. Their literu interpretation of Scripture not only involves
giving to the Deity a human form, and implements of human enter-
prise, but also the literal future levelling of mountains, annihilating
seas, and bringinjg the whole earth into one vast plain, without
weeds, thorns, bners, or any useless or hurtful thing — all as neat
and as smooth as the head of a pair of brass andirons ; and it is to be
smelted and polished into shape much in the same way.

**5. The Book of Covenants and Revelations, as it is called,
which is the real basis of the practical faith of the Mormons, con-
tains only a small part of the revelations that have actually been
given to Smith, as ne pretends. These is still a large folio of un-
published revelations of many hundreds, which it would be indis-
creet to expose to the rude gaze of unbelievers, but whidh a Mormon
is really bound to believe and obey wherever he meets them, or else
believe that Smith, to whom they are given, is an impostor : for he
has declared them all to be from God, and printed only so many of
them as he deemed prudent Some of those not published occa-
sionally meet us, through either the indiscretion of the brethren or
the kindness of seceders.

** The revelations in the Book of Covenants cannot be understood
without carefViUy comparing them with the history and position of
the Mormon Church at the time they were given. The transfers
of town-lots, tanyards, &c. &c., to Smitli and Company, by ex^
press revelation, are also artfully concealed by the use of antiquated,
fictitious names, both for the persons and the property. It should

* In proof of this, «cc B. C, pp. 77, 74, 180, 159, 78, 75, 88, 85, 104, 11$,
S3, aSO, 174, 175, 176, 189, in order,
t B. C, 7, 16, 111 i B. M., 30, 31, first •dition ; B. C, 76, 117, 166.
1 B. C, SK.

174 HISTOBY OF TH£ SAUfTS.

also be remembered that revelations, aaid to be fiyen to others, ^le
always givea through Smith, who is sole translator, and who, ac-
cording to one revelation, aspires to no other gift,* bat, according
to another, claims all gifls and all authority.

** In 1833, an edition of these revelations was published, in the
order of iheir dates, and called the * Book of Commandments,' with
explanatory captions at the head of each revelation. That edition
has been wisely suppressed. It was quite too luminous for Mor-
monism. In lti35, the present book came forth, with the type, ^.,
corrected. The captions are left out, and the revelations are scat-
tered here and there, without any order of time or date, it now
takes a Mormon to hunt them out, and compare them with facts in
their history. Nor is this all; whole clauses, sections, and, in some
cases, almost entire pages, are either added or suppressed, as new
exigencies require, in these said divine revelations, i^et not the
* pious Saint ' complain of this. It is the duty of his Prophet to see
tliat the revelations are corrected, from time to time. The disciple
has nothing to do but to believe.

*^ When old Mr. Smith, the father of Joe, was alive, he, among the
rest, needed something to do. He was consequently dubbed ratri"
frch, and it was his duty to pronounce a patriarchal blessing, in the
name of Jesus Christ, on the head of all the fatherless chudren in
the Mormon Church. He had a wonderful gift of vrophecyf which,
like a cider-barrel tapped at both ends, spun out both towards the
past and the future, lie vrtdicted to these sons of the Church both
their pedigree and their destiny ; told them what particular tribe
of Israel they were from, and what their future career would be, id
this world and the next.**

REMARKABLE EVENTS.

^ The reader will already have observed, that a ^reat variety of
contradictory stories were related by the Smith family, before they
had any fixed plan of operation y respecting the finding of the plates,
from which their book was translated. One is, that after the plates
were taken from their hiding-place by Joe, he a^ain laid them downi
looked into the hole, where lie saw a toad^ which immediately trans-
formed itself into a spirit, and gave him a tremendous blow.
Another is, that, afler he had got the plates, a spirit assaulted him
with the intention of getting them from his possession, and actually
jerked them out of his nands ; Joe, nothing daunted, in return seized
them again, and started to run, when his Satanjp Miyesty (or the
spirit) applied his foot to the Prophet's seat of honor, which raised
him three or four feet from the ground. That the Prophet has
related a story of this kind, to some of his * weak Saints,* we have
no manner of doubt.

< B. C. 196,

BSMABKABLfi BVCNTfi. 175

*

*< Here, then, is the finding of the plates, containing a new reve-
lation from Heaven ; and the modvLS operandi mav seem to the
Mormon truly wonderful, and in character with tnat Being who
upholds and sustains the Universe; but to the rational mind it can
excite no other emotion than contempt for his species.

'* Mr. Copley testified that, afler the Mormon brethren^ arrived
here from the Susquehannah, one of them, by the name of Joseph
Knight, related to him a story, as having been related to him by
Joseph Smith, Jr., which exciting some curiosity in his mind, he
determined to ask Joseph more particularly about it, on the first
opportunity. Not long afler, it was confirmed to him by Joseph
himself, who again related it in the following manner : ' Aiter he
had finished translating the Book of Mormon, he again buried up
the plates in the side of a mountain, by command of the Lord. Some
time afLer this, he was going through a piece of woods, on a by-path,
when he discovered an old man dressed in ordinary^ gray apparel,
sitting upon a log, having in his hand, or near bv, a small box. On
approaching him, he asked him what he had in nis box. To which
the old man replied, that he had a Monkey, and for five coppers he
might see it. Joseph answered, that he would not give a cent to
see a monkey, for he had seen a hundred of them. He then asked
the old man where he was going, who said he was going to Charzee,
Joseph then passed on, and, not recollecting any such place in that
part of the country, began to ponder over the strange interview, and
finally asked the Lord the meaninor of it. The Lord told him that
the man he saw was Moroni, wiUi the plates, and if he had given
him the five coppers, he might have got his plates again.'

" Here we have a story related by our modern Prophet, to his
followers, for no other purpose, as we conceive, but to make his
pretensions more ' marvellous in their eyes.' A celebrated Mormon
prophet, of ancient times, and one of modem date, have an inter-
view in the woods, and hold a conversation about a Monkey ; one
prophet of the Lord relating a falsehood to anotlier ! ! ! "

Howe^a excellent and able book, pp. 275—377.

Shortly afler I located in Nauvoo, Joe proposed to me
to go to New York, and get some plates engraved, and
bring them to him, so that he could exhibit them as the
genuine plates of the Book of Mormon, which he pretended
bad been taken from him, and '*hidup^' by an angel, and
which he would profess to have recovered. He calculated
upon making considerable money by this trick, as there
would of course be a great anxiety to see the plates, which
he intended to exhibit at twenty-five cents a sight. I men*
tioned this proposition to Mrs. Sarah M. Pratt, on the day
the Prophet, made it, and requested her to keep it in
memory, as it might be of much importance.

As an illustration ^f the hypocrisy of Joe Smith, I will

176 HISTORT OF THS SAINTS.

mention a short conversation that passed between him and
myself, as we were one day riding together up the banks
of the Mississippi. Afler a short interval of silence, Smith
suddenly said to me, in a peculiarly inquiring manner, —

" General, Harris (meaning George W. Harris, Esq., the
present husband of the widow of the late William Morgan,
a very pretty and intelligent woman, who has a very beau-
tiful daughter married to Colonel David B. Smith) says that
you have no faith, and that you do not believe we shall
ever obtain our inheritances in Jackson county, Missouri."
Though somewhat perplexed by. the Prophet's remark, and
still more by his manner, I coldly replied, " What does
Harris know about my belief, or the real state of my mind 1
I like to tease him now and then about it, as he is so firm
in the faith, and takes it all in such good part." '^ Well,"
said Joe, laughing heartily, "I guess you have got about
as much faith as I have. Ha ! ha I ha ! " ''I should judge
about as much," was my reply.

My friend. General George W. Robinson, once related to
me a curious circumstance, which occurred in Missouri,
when he was clerk of the Church. One day, Joe, the
Prophet, was gravely dictating to him a revelation which he
had' just received from the Lord. Robinson, according to
custom, wrote down the very words the Lord spoke to Joe,
and in the exact order in which the latter heard them. He
had written for some considerable time, when Smith's in-
spiration began to flag, and, to gain breath, he requested
Robinson to read over what he had written. He did so
until he came to a particular passage, when Smith inter-
rupted him, and desired to have that read again. Robinson
complied, and Smith, shaking his head, knitting his brows,
and looking very much perplexed, said, '' That will never
do. You must alter that, George."

Robinson, though not a little surprised at the "Lord's
blunder" did as he was directed, and changed the offen-
sive passage into one more fit for the inspection of the
Gentiles.

One of the most remarkable of the Mormon miracles is
related by Rev. Mr. Tucker to have occurred in the fol-
lowing manner : —

Towards tb« close of a 'fine summer's day, a farmer, in

REMAIUUBLB EYEmS. 177

one of the States, found a respectable-looking man at his
gate, who requested permission to pass the night under his
roof. The hospitable farmer readily complied : the stran-
ger was invited into the house, and a warm and substan-
tial supper set before him.

Afler he had eaten, the farmer, who appeared to be a
jovial, warm-hearted, humorous, and withal shrewd old
man, passed several hours in pleasant conversation with
his guest, who seemed to be very ill at ease, both in body
and mind, yet, as if desirous of pleasing his entertainer,
replied courteously and agreeably to whatever was said to
him. Finally, he pleaded fatigue and illnes^ as an excuse
for retiring to rest, and was conducted by the farmer to an
upper chamber, where he went to bed.

About the middle of the night, the farmer and his family
were awakened by the most dreadful groans, which they
soon ascertained proceeded from the chamber of the trav-
eller. On going to investigate the matter, they found that
the stranger was dreadfully ill, suffering the most acute
pains and uttering the most doleful cries, apparently with-
out any consciousness of what was passing around him.
Every thing that kindness and experience could suggest,
was done to relieve the sick man ; but all efforts were in
vain, and to the consternation of the farmer and his family,
their guest expired in the course of a few hours. i

In the midst of their trouble and anxiety, at an early
hour in the morning, two travellers came to the gate, and
requested entertainment. The farmer told them that he
would willingly offer them hospitality, but that just now his
household was in the greatest confusion on account of the
death of the stranger, the particulars of which he pro*
ceeded to relate to them. They appeared to be much
surprised and grieved at the poor man's calamity, and
politely requested permission to see the corpse. This of
course the farmer readily granted, and conducted them to
the chamber in which lay the dead body. They looked
at it for a few minutes in silence, and then the oldest
of the pair gravely told the farmer, that they were
Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints, and were empowered by God to perform miracles,
even to the extent of raising the 4ead ; . and that they fell

178 HISTORY or THE SAINTS.

quite assured they could bring to life the dead man before
them !

The farmer was of course pretty considerably astonished
by the quality and powers of the persons who addressed
him, and rather incredulously asked if they were quite
sure that they could perform all they professed to.

** O certainly ! Not a doubt of it. The Lord has com-
missioned us expressly to work miracles, in order to prove
the truth of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the inspiration
of the books and doctrines revealed tb him. Send for all
your neighbors, that, ip the presence of a multitude, we
may bring the dead man to life, and that the Lord and his
Church may be glorified to all men."

The farmer, after a little consideration, agreed to let
the miracle- workers proceed, and, as they desired, sent his-
children to his neighbors, who, attracted by the expec-
tation, of a miracle, flocked to the house in considerable
numbers.

The Mormon Elders commenced their task by kneeling
and praying before the body with uplifted hands and eyes,
and with most stentorian lungs. Before they had pro-
ceeded far with their prayer, a sudden idea struck the
farmer, who quietly quitted the house for a few minutes,
and then returned, and waited patiently by the bedside
until the prayer was finished, and the Elders ready to per-
form their miracle. Before they began, he respectfully
said to them, that, with their permission, he wished to ask
them a few questions upon the subject of this miracle.
They replied that they had no objection. The farmer
then asked, " You are quite certain that you can bring this
man to life again?" "We are." "How do you know
that you can ? " " We have just received a revelation
from the Lord, informing us that we can." *' Are you
quite sure that the revelation was from the Lord?"
** Yes ; we cannot be mistaken about it." " Does your
power to raise this man to life again depend upon the par-
ticular nature of his disease ? or could you now bring any
dead man to life ? " " It makes no difference to us : we
could bring any corpse to life." ** Well, if this man had
been killed, and one of his arms cut off, could you bring
him to life, and also restore to him his arm?" "Cer-

SXJURKABLE ETSNTS. 179

tainly, — there is no limit to the power given us by the
Lord. It would make no difference, even if both his arms
and his legs were cut off." ** Could you restore him if
his head had been cut off? " " Certainly we could."
" Well," sail the farmer, with a quiet smile upon his fea-
tures, " I do not doubt the truth of what such holy men
assert, but I am desirous that my neighbors here should
be fully converted by having the miracle performed in the
compietest manner possible. So, by your leave, if it makes
no difference whatever, I will proceed to cut off the head
of this corpse." Accordingly he produced a huge and
well-sharpened broad axe from beneath his coat, which he
swung above his head, and was apparently about to bring
it down upon the neck of the corpse, when, lo and be-
hold 1 to the amazement of all present, the dead man
started up in great agitation, and swore he would not have
his head cut off for any consideration whatever ! '

The company immediately seized the Mormons, and
soon made them confess that the pretended dead man
was also a Mormon Elder, and that they had sent him to
the farmer's house, with directions to die there at a par-
ticular hour, when they would drop in, as if by accident,
and perform a miracle that would astonish every body.
The farmer, after giving the impostors a severe chas-
tisement, let them depart to practise their humbuggery in
some other quarter.

I give the following from the Times and Seasons,
Vol.- III., No. 8, page 701, verbatim, et literatim^ et punc"
tatim, as a sample of the Prophet's editorial taste in doing
up hymeneal notices, and as an evidence of his purity and
chistity of thought on subjects of that kind. Any Gentile
editor would be hooted out of society for penning and
publishing such contemptible stuff.

" Married — In this oily on the 6th inst. by the Rev. Erastus H.
Derby, Mr. Gilbert H. Rolfe, to Miss JSliza Jane Bates, all of this
city.

" On receipt of the above notice, we were favored with a rich and
delightful loaf of cake — ^by no means below the medium size ; which
makes us anxious that an their acts through life may be justified;
and when life wanes and they find a peacefnl abode in the * narrow
house/ may the m/iny outs and ins they have made, leave to the
world lUi abundant posterity, to celebrate their glorious example.'

ISO HISTORY or TUB SiANTS.

PHRENOLOGICAL CHARTS.

I here insert two phrenological charts, about which
much has been said and written, simply as a matter of
curiosity. That of the Prophet was taken in Nauvoo, Il-
linois, by Doctor Crane, in June last; mine was taken in
Fairfield, Illinois, by Doctor Parnell, between two and
three years since.

« SMITH'S CHART, BY CRANE.

In this chart the figures range from 1 to 12; 1 is the
minimum; 7 the medium, and 12 the maximum.

From ike iCcatvoo Wasp^ ofJvly 2, 18452.
"Mr. Editor:

" Sir,. — 1 take the liberty to inform you that a large
number of persons in different places have maniftsted a desire to
know the phrenological development of Joseph Smith's bead. I
have examined the Prophet's head, and he is perfectly willing to
have the chart published. You will please publish in your paper
such portions of it as I have marked, showing the development of
his much-talked-of brain, and let the public jud^e for themselves
whether phrenology proves the reports against him true or false
Time will prove all things, and a ' word to the wise is sufficient.*

"Yours, respectfully,

"A.Crane.*'

"A PHRENOLOGICAL CHART.
" By A. Crane, M. D., Professor of Phrenology.

« PROPENSITIES

"11; L. Jtmativeness. — Extreme susceptibility; passionately
fond of the company of the other sex.

" 9 ; L. Pkiloprogenitfveness. — Strong parental affection, great
solicitude for their happiness.

" 5 ; F. Inhabitiveness. — Attached to place of long residence ;
no desire to change residence.

"b; F. Adhesiveness, — Solicitous for the happiness of friends,
and ardent attachments to the other sex.

"8j L. Combtitiveness. — Indomitable perseverance ; great cour-
age ; force ; ability to overpower.

"6; M. Destructiveness. — Ability to control the passions; and ii
not disposed to extreme measures.

"10; L. Secretiveness. — Great propensity and ability to conceal
feelings, plans, &c.

" 9 ; L. JicquisiHveness, — Strong lore of riches; desire to make-
and save money.

PHHENOI»OCIlClkt CBABXS* 181

*'9; L. AUmentiveness. — Strong reliih for food; keen and se-
vere appetite.

^'4 ; M. or S. VikUwmess. — Indiileieoce to life; viewa the ap-
proach of death without fear.

" FEELINGS.

"7; F. Cautiousness. — Provision a^inst prospeetive dangen
and ills, without hesitation or irresolution.

"10; L. .^pprobativeness. ^Ambiiton for distinction; sense of
character; sensibility to reproach; fear of scandal.

^ 10 ; L. Self-esteem. — High-mindedness ; independence ; self-
confidence ; dignity ; aspiration for greatness.

"7; F. Concentrativeness. — Can dwell on a subject without fa-
tigue, and control the imagination.

« SENTIMENTS.

"10; L. Benevolence. — K'mdneBa'f goodness; tenderness; sym-
pathy.

'* b ; F. Veneration. — Religion without great awe pr enthusiasm ;
reasonable deference to superiority.

"10; L. Firmness. — Stability and decision of character and
purpose.

"d; L. Conscientiousness. — High regard fcnr duty, integrity,
moral principle, justice, obligation, truth, &c.

" 10 ; L. Hope, — Cheerfumess ; sanguine expectation of success
and enjoyment.

"10; L. Marvellousness. — Wonder; credulity; belief in the su-
pernatural.

"5; M. Imitation, — Inferior imitative powers; failure to copy,
describe, relate stories, &c.

"8; L. or F. Prepossession. — Attached to certain notions; not
disposed to change them, &c.

"9; L. Ideality, — Lively imagination; fancy; taste; love of
poetry, elegance, eloquence, excellence, &c.

«» PERCEPTIVES.

" 8 ; F. or M. Admonition. — > Desirous to know what others are
doing ; ready to counsel and give hints of a fault 6t duty, &c.

"7; F. ConstrucHveness. — Respectable ingenuity, without un-
common skiU, tact, or facility in making, &c.

" 5 ; F. or M. Tune. ^^ liove of music, without quickness to catch
or learn tunes by the ear. *

"11; V. L. orli. TVme. — Distinct impressions as to the time
when, how long, &e.

"11; V. L or L. Locality, ^^GietA memory of places and po-
sition.

" 11 ; V. L. Eventwdity.'T^^ttnotdinxay reooltection'of minute
circumstances.

" 10 ; L. Individuality,^^ Great desire to see ; power of observa-
tion.

" J ; F. Form, — • Cognizance, anddistinct recollection of shapes,
counti' nances, &c.

16

182 HISTOBT OF THE SAINTS.

^M1 ; V. L., L. or F. Size. — Ability to judge of proportionate
size, &c.

** 9 ; V. L., L. or F. Wdghtr — Knowledge of gravitation, inomen-
tuin, &c.

** 9; F. or M. Color. — Moderate skill in judging of colon, com-
paring and arranging them.

*' 6 ; F. LangtMge. — Freedom of expression, without fluency or
verbosity ; no great loquacity.

"9; L. Order. — Love of arrangement; every thing in its par-
ticular place.

*^7', Xfumber. — Respectable aptness in arithmetical calculations,
without extraordinary talent.

« REPLECTIVES.

"10; L. Mirthfidness. — Wit; fun; mirth; perception and love
of tlie ludicrous.

" 9 ; L. Causality. — Ability to think and reason clearly, and per-
ceive the relations of cause and effect.

'* 11 ; V. L. Comparison. — Extraordinary critical acumen ; great
power of analysis.

"THERE ARE FOUR TEMPERAMENTS.

''The Lymphatic^ or Phlegmatic, in which ihe secreting glands
are the most active portion or the system, produces both corporeal
and mental langruor, dulness, and inactivity.

*' The Sanguine, in which the arterial portion of the system is
most active, gives strong feelings and passions, and more ardor,
zeal, and activity, than of strengm or power.

*'The Bilious, in which the mttscular portion predominates in
activity, produces strength, power, and endurance of body, with
great force and energy of mind and character.

'' The Nervous, in which the brain and nervous system are most
active, gives the highest decree of activity, with clearness of percep-
tion and of thought, but less endurance. Sharp and prominent
organs denote activity; smooth and broad ones, intensity and
strength.

"EXPLANATION OP THE, CHART.
'' The figures in the margin opposite the oreans, and ranging in a
scale from 1 to 12, indicate the various degrees in which .the
respective organs are developed in the head of the individual ex-
amined : thus, 1, 2, indicate that the organ is very small, or almost
wholly wanting ; 3, 4, means ^mall, or feeble, and inactive ; 5, 6,
moderate, or active only in a subordinate degree; 7, 8, full or
fair, and a little above par ; 9, 10, large, or quite energetic, and hav-
ing a marked influence upon the character; 11, 12, very large, or
fiving a controlling influence, and extreme liability to perversion,
'he SIZE OF THE BRAIN, COMBINATIONS OF THE FACULTIES, and

TEMPERAMENT, of the individual may be indicated in the same
manner as the denees of the faculties or organs.

The initials V. Xi. denote very large ; L. large ; F. full ; M. mod-
erate ; S. small; V. S. very small.

PHRENOLOGICAL CHARTS. 183

COMBINATION OP THE FACULTIES.

<* The fore part of the head is called the frvnijol portion ; and the
back, the occipital ; the base, or lower part, is denolniuated the
basilar region; and the upper portion, the coronal.

*' Phrenoltigj has ascertained what portion of the brain the mind
employs in the exercise of each mental function ; and hence, by deter-
mining how much larger one part of the brain is than another, it
can tell how much an mdividual exercises certain classed of mental
functions more than he does others. The combinations of the
organs have, also, great influence upon the menial manitestations*
The rule is, that the larger organs control the smaller.

" When the occipital portion is larger than the frontal, there will
be more of feeling than reason ; of passion than intellect ', of brutality
thtn humanity; of propelling than directing power; of action than
judgment. But when the frontal region is umch larger than the
occipital, as in the heads of Melancthon, Franklin, Washington,
and Clinton, the individual will combine pure morality with great
depth and power of intellect; a strong mind with virtuous feelings;
and sound practical sense, with nobleness of conduct.

" One having large or very large intellectual organs, combined
with moderate or small organs of Uie propensities, will possess great
mental power with a want of impetus ; high intellectual and moral
qualities, with inefficiency; but with the propensities well devel-
oped, and the intellectual faculties very large, will combine great
strength of mind with great energy of character, and both directed
by the human sentiments, and applied to moral and intellectual ob-
jects : Washington, Franklin, Clinton, find Lafayette.

**^ One having very large perceptive faculties, combined with only
fail reasoning organs, will possess a practical matter-of-fact talent,
and an uncommon share of general information, yet lack depth of
mind and strength of intellect, and a talent for adapting means to
ends.

^* One having the perceptive organs full or large, with very large
reflective faculties, will have a universal talent, and ability both to
plfi-n nnd execute ; to attend to greneral principles and to details ; and,
with full or large propensities, be capable of employing extraordinary
talents to the best advantage, and of rising to eminence : Frankhn,
Washington, Clinton, Bonaparte.

'* One having very large reasoning organs, with only moderate or
full perceptive faculties, will possess great depth and originality of
mind, and profound philosophical acumen ; but will think and reason
more than observe.

^^ One in whom the basilar region greatly predominates over the
coronal, will possess great force of character, and a ready talent fot
business, but strong passions applied to selfish purposes, with little
morality and elevation of character and feeling.

** An evenness of the head indicates uniformity of character ; and
uneyenness eccentricities and strong traits. *

184 HISTORY or THE SAINTS.

BENNETT'S CHART, BY PARNELL.

In this chart the figures range from 1 to 22 ; 1 is the
minimum, 14 the medium, and ^ the maximum.

« Phrenologirxd Developments of General Jolm C, BennetL

^ Remarks.— The brain may be more or less active, from temper-
ament and texture, — the former to be determined by the compara*
tive size of the head, thorax, and abdomen, the latter by observ-
ing the fibre of the skin. The size of the head is always compared
with the size of the body of the same individual, and the size of the
faculties with the faculties of the same head. If the size of Ihe
faculties are marked by figures, those used will be from 1 to 22 ; the
medium, 14 : if by words, V. S. stands for ve^ small ; S. for small ;
R. S. for rather small ; M. for moderate ; F. for full ; V. F. for very-
full ; L. for large ; V. L. for very large.

wpEELlJfGS, OR AFFECTIVE FACULTIES.'

" Gknus One — Propensities.

" 17. VitativeaMSs. — Use ; to preserve life. Abuse ; too great a
fear of death. Want; careless oi health an4 life.

"17. Mimentiveness. — Use; to prompt to take food. Abuse;
drunkenness and gluttony. Want; careless of the kind of food.

" 18. Destructiveness. — Use ; to destroy animals for food. Abuse ;
anger, revenge, murder. Want; inability to destroy.

" 18. AmtUiveness. — Use ; propagation of the species — affection
for the opposite sex. Abuse ; jealousy, lust, lasciviousness, rapes,
seduction. Want ; incapacity to love the opposite sex.

"14. Philoprogenitiveness. — Use ; protection of offspring. Abuse ;
too ffreat a fondness for children. Want; neglect of them, hatred
of children.

"16. Adhesiveness. — Use; attachment, friendship. Abuse; too
great a fondness for society. Want ; averse to friendship and social
society.

" 14. CoTtcenirtUiveness. — Use ; to give continuity to feelings and
intellect. Abuse ; too great a love of home, place, country, and a
disposition to dwell too long on one subject. Want ; 'incapacity
to locate and be content, and to keep the intellect on one subject.

" 19. Combativeness. — Use ; courage, self-defence. Abuse ; con-
tention, quarrelling, war. Want ; timidity.

" 14. Secretiveness. — Use ; prudence, to conceal. Abuse ; suspi-
cion, deceit, lying. Want ; inability to conceal.

" 13. Acquisitiveness. — Use ; to provide for present and future
wants. Abuse ; avarice and theft. Want ; prodigality, spendthrift.

" 13. Constrvctiveness. — Use ; to construct, build, and invent.
Abuse ; picklocks, too great a desire to invent, and to build without
judgment Want ; want of mechanical genius.

y
A

PHBENOLOGICAL CBARTS^ 185

** GxNui Two — Semtimx^ts.

"13. CauUausness,'^Vae; circumspection, care — tokeepfrom
danger. Abuse ; fear, melancholy, bashfulness, hesitation. Want;
xecluess, hasty in speech and action.

** 16. Approbatheness. — Use ; to gain the good-will and esteem of
others, proper ambition. Abuse; vanity, and too great a love of
glory, fame, and applause. Want ; regardless of the opinion of oth-
ers, want of proper ambition.

" 14. Self-EgUem. — Use ; proper self-respect. Abuse ; pride, and
too great a loye of power. Want} want of confidence, oistrust of
(me% abilities.

** 14. Q. A love of the pathetic^sublime, and awfiil.

** 16. Benevolence. — Use ; mercy, charity, and forgiveness. Abuse ;
relieving the lazy, idle, and unworthy. Want ; mdifferent to the
wants and woes of others, unforgiving.

** 16. Veneration. — Use ; to revere, respect, and reverence laws, *>
parents, the Creator and his laws, and what is great and sood.
Abuse ; servility and the worship of what is evil. Want ; disre-
spect, neglect of parents, disregard for the Creator and the laws of
tne land.

" 16. Firmnees. -^ Us^; perseverance, fortitude, and steadiness of
purpose. Abuse ; stubbornness, wilfulness, and desperation. Want ',
fickleness of purpose and opinion.

" 18. Conscientiousness. — Use ; perfect justice to all. Abuse ;
too great a sensitiveness. Want ; disregard for the rights of others.

'* 10. Hope. — Use ; to lead one to endeavor to obtain what the
other faculties propedv desire. Abuse ; castle-building, too great
expectation. Want ; doubt and despondencv.

** 9. MarveUousness. — Use ; faith, confidence, and proper be-
lief. Abuse ; credulity, fanaticism, — a belief in the supernatural,
|rhosts, and witches. Want ; unbelief, want of confidence in others.

*M1. Ideaiity. — Use; desire of perfection, poetrj. Abuse; fas-
tidiousness, too great a disposition to raise the mmd above reality
and sober reason Want; regardless of improvement.

**16. Mirthfulness. — Use; cheerfulness, mirth, wit, and ^rajety.
Abuse ; sarcasm, too ^eat a love of the ridiculous, and of ndicule.
liVant ; inability to eiyoy mirth and conviviality.

"12. Imitation. — Use; natural language — to imitate in nature
and the arts. Abuse ; mimicry, forgery, and counterfeiting. Want
inability to copy.

«« INTELLBCTUAL FACULTIES.
** GXHUS OnX — PXRCEPTIVK FaCULTIXS.

*^ 18. Individuality. — The observing faculty. Memory of tfaingi.
** 16. Form. -^ Memonr of persons, drawing.
** 17. Size. ^ Judge of'^size, distance, and perpendicularity.
" 17. Weight. — ludg^ of weight and gravity.
** 18. Coloring. — Painting, flowers, beauties of natnre.
** 19. LoeaUtu. -^ Love of trav^, memory of places.

16*

166 HI8TQRT OF THS SAIITVS.

'* 15. Order, — Love of arrangement.

^ 16. Number. — Love of figures, memory of numbers.

** 14. EventualUy. — Love of history, memory of historioU eveX^ti.

'" 14. Time. — Cfhronology, time in music.

** 13. Tune. — Tones in music, memory of sound.

" 16. Language. — Memory of words.

*• Genus Ttvo — Reflective Faculties.

*'*' 16. Comparison. -« Judgment, logical reason.
** 13. Causality. — Gives one the power to reason abstractly, a lov«
of metaphysics, and to trace effects to their causes.
** 12. Inference. — The power to draw conclusions from premises.

*< Temperament.-'- Sanguine and bilious.

«« The animal passions and intellectual powers prevail in this head
in a great degree over the superior sentiments ; consequently, he
has great energy and indomptable perseverance, and much more
force and power, than goodness and fine feeling ; he was made for
war, rapine, plunder, and destruction; to fill some high station,
where he could have power, take the command, and he would gain
all his ends by force and storm. He is very tenacious of life, but
still a man of great courage. He is an epicure, and fond of good liv-
ing ; and quite amorous ; strong in friendship, but still stronger in
his feelings of hatred and desire of revenge. He is quite ambitious ;
desires fame, glory, and renown ; is hasty, rash, violent ; wants
patience and prudence. He would sacrifice money both for fame
and power. He is very generous, and would relieve the distressed.
He wants faith and hope, and is not fond of the marvellous ; must
have facts before his mind can be convinced. He is not a wit, poet,
or musician ; but is very severe, satiric^, and has some of the poetry
of love, and is verV fond of amorous and martial music He is good
to imitate from observation and recollection, but not from feeling.
His pride would prevent him from being guilty of small, mean acts.
He is governed very much by his feelings, and is too liable to jump
at conclusions. He has very strong powers of observation, and
memory of things, facts, fiices, places, and dates ; ffood, of events,
language, and time ; poor, of tones. He is very fona of the physical
sciences, geo^phy, travel ; of order, discipline, and epistolary
writing. He is a most accurate Judge of size, distance, proportion,
location, and color ; should be a first-rate surgeon, or a fiur linguist ;
reasons, by comparison.

" B. A. Parnell."

DK^BIPTION OF NAt7VOO« 189

DESCRIPTION OP NAUVOO.

Nauvoo, the Holy City of the Mormons and present cap-
itdl of their empire, is situated in the north-western part oi
Illinois, on the east bank of the Mississippi, in latitude N.
40"" 35', and bngitude W. 14° 23'. It is bounded on the
north, south, and west, by the river, which there forms a
large curve, and is nearly two miles wide. Eastward of the
city is a beautiful undulating prairie. It is distant ten
miles from Fort Madison, in Iowa, is fifty-five miles above
duincy, Illinois, and more than two- hundred above St.
Louis.

Before the Mormons gathered there, the place was named
Commerce, and was but a small and obscure village of some
twenty houses. So rapidly, however, have they acGumu<*
lated, that there are now, within three years of their first
settlement, upwards of seven thousand inhabitants in the
city, and three thousand more, of the Saints, in its immedi^
ate vicinity.

The surface of the ground upon which Nauvoo is built,
is very uneven, though there are no great elevations. A
few feet below the soil is a vast bed of limestone, from
which excellent building material can be quarried, to aH-
Hiost any extent. A number of tumuli, or ancient mounds,
are found within the limits of the city, proving it to hav6
been a place of some importance with the extinct inhabit-
ants of this continent.

The space comprised within the city limits is about four
miles in its greatest length, and three in its greatest breadth,
but is very irregular in its outline, and does not cover 90
much ground* as the above measurement would seem to in*,
die ate.

The city is regularly laid out — the streets crossing eacJh
other at right angles, and being generally of considerable
length, and of convenient width. The majority of the
houses are as yet merely whitewashed log-cabins, but lat-
terly quite a number of frame and brick houses have been
erected.

The chief edifices of Naavoo are tlw Temple, and a ho»

tti-

190 HISTORY OF THE SAIKITS. .

tel, called the Nauvoo House, neither of which is yet fin-
ished. The latter is of brick, upon a stone foundation, and
presents a front, on two streets, of one hundred and twenty
feet each, by forty feet deep, and is to be three stories high,
exclusive of the basement ; and, though intended chiefly for
the reception and entertainment of strangers and travellers,
contains, or, rather, when completed is to contain, a splen-
did suite of apartments, for the especial accommodation of
the Prophet Joe Smith, and his heirs and descendants for-
ever !

The privilege of this accommodation he pretends was
granted him by the Lord, in a special revelation, on ac-
count of his services to the Church. It is most extraordi-
nary that Americans, imbued with democratic sentiments
and an utter aversion to hereditary privileges of any kind,
could for a moment be blinded to the selfishness of the
scoundrel, who thus coolly provided for himself and his
latest posterity a palace and a maintenance. We may,
however, safely predict that his Imperial Majesty will not
continue long in the enjoyment of his palace, aud that, if
he escapes the fate of Haman, it will only be to wander,
like Cain, a vagabond on the face of the earth.

The Mormon Temple is a splendid stVucture of stone,
quarried within the bounds of the city. Its breadth is
eighty feet, and its length one hundred and twenty, besides
an outer court of thirty feet, making the length of the whole
structure one hundred and fifly feet.

In the basement of the Temple is the baptismal fcmt,
constructed in imitation of the famous brazen sea of Solo-
mon. It is upborne by twelve oxen, handsomely carved,
and overlaid with gold. Upon the surface of it, in panels,
are represented various scenes, handsomely painted. This
font is used for baptism of various kinds, viz., baptism for
admission into the Church — baptism for the healing of
the sick — baptism for the remission of sins — and lastly,
which is the most singular of all, baptism for the dead. By
this latter rite, living persons, selected as the representa-
tives of persons deceased, are baptized for them, and thus
the dead are released from the penalty of their sins ! This
baptism was performed, I recollect, for General Washing-
ton, among many others.

DESCRIFTION OF NACVOO. 191

The upper story of the Temple will, when finished, be
used as a lodge-room for Order Lodge, and other secret
societies. »

In the body of the Temple, where it is intended that the
congregation shall assemble, are two sets of pulpits; one
for the Melchisedec priesthood, and the other for the Aaron-
ic and Levitical priesthood.

The cost of this noble edifice has been defrayed by tith-
ing the whole Mormon Church. Those who reside at
Nauvoo, and are able to labor, have been obliged to work
every tenth day in quarrying stone, and also upon the Tem-
ple itself; and those who reside at a distance have been
levied upon to the amount of one tenth of their property.

Besides the Temple, there are in Nauvoo two extensive
steam saw mills, a large steam flouring mill, a tool factory,
on a handsome scale, a foundry, and a company of consid-
erable wealth, from Staffordshire, England, are establishing
the manufacture of English china-ware.
^ It has often been asserted, in the Eastern States, that the
Mormon settlement in Illinois had a community of goods ;
but this is not the case. Individual property is held, and
society organized, as in other American cities. Not far
from the city, however, is a community farm, which is cul-
tivated in common by the poorer classes ; but in the city
itself each family has an acre allotted to it.

The neighborhood of Nauvoo is pretty thickly populated,
and chiefly, though not exclusively, by Mormons.

The population of the Holy City itself is rather of a
motley kind. The general gathering of the Saints has, of
course, brought together men of all classes and characters.
The great majority of them are uneducated and unpol jahed

pftrsnns whn arp. nnf^niiKfpHlv sinr.PrP hp|ipYprf in thft

Prophet and his doclrines. A great proportion of them
consists of the^iguoranijDfutalized converts from the Eng-
lish manufacturing districts, who were easily persqaded by
Smith's missionaries, to exchange their wretchedness at
home for ease and plenty in the Promised Land. These
men are devotedly attached to the Prophet's will, and obey
his dictates as they would those of God himself.

These aliens can, by the law of Illinois, vote, afler six
months' residence in the State ; and they consequently go

192 ^ HisTomr or the Siiurrs,

blindly to the polls, and ca^t their ballots for whoever is in
favor with Joe Smith, and has the expressed approbation
of that holy personage. To such an extent does his will
influence them, that at the last election in Nauvoo there
were but six votes against the candidates he supported!
The former inhabitants of Hancock county, those who re-
deemed it from the wilderness, are almost disfranchised by
these new-comers, whose numbers and unanimity give them
the political control of the county, and enable them to mo-
nopolize all civil and military offices.

I need say but little more of Nauvoo and its inhabitants,
except to remark that the great mass of the population is
composed of Mormons, and what are vulgarly styled Jack
Jiformons^ who are those attached to the Church from in-
terest, but who do not possess overmuch faith in its doc-
trines, and, indeed, are not considered Mormons.

/>f t^^** Mnrmj>nPj I believe the majority to be ignorant ,

'^Hllif i d mpn, rPa l iy anf< ftnrnQ st)y dev pted to the ir rpli gjnn

But^heir leaders ^ar^emen^ of intellgfit, who are infidels, and
profess Mormon ism because oirihe wealth, titles, rank, and
power, it procures them. The missionaries who are sent
out to convert the Gentiles, are chiefly sincere men, whom
Joe cannot trust with a knowledge of his iniquity, and who,
from their intelligence, would soon find him out, if they
lived at Nauvoo. Their wives, also, are som etimes want ed
for the cloister, a nd consequently the^hudbftnds are kept at
a distance.

^ As a military position, Nauvoo, garrisoned by twenty or
thirty thousand fanatics, armed to the teeth, and well sup-
plied with provisions, would be one of the most formidable
I in the world. It is unapproachable upon any side but the
least, and there the nature of the ground offers great obsta-
jcles to besieging operations. It is Smith's intention to
(congregate his followers there, until they accumulate a
; force that can defy any thing that can be brought against
;him.

Nauvoo is a Hebrew word, and signifies a beautiful
habitation for man, carrying with it the idea of rest ; it
is not, however, considered by the Mormons their final
HOME, but a resting'-place only — for they only intend to
remain there until they have gathered ibrce sufficient to

CHARTERS, ORDINANCES, ETC. ETC. 193

enable them to conquer Independence, in Jackson coun-
ty, Missouri, which is one of the most fertile^ pleasant^
and desirable countries on the face of the earth, possessing
a soil unsurpassed in any region. Independence they con-
sider their Zion, and they .there intend to rear their Great
Temple, the corner-stone of which is already laid. There
is to be the great gathering-place for all the Saints, and in
that delightful and healthy country they expect to find their
Eden, and build the New Jerusalem. The Missourians
are proverbial for their hospitality, but they will never yield
a country of such surpassing beauty, superior excellence,
and unbounded fertility, to the Latter Day Saints, or any
other saints, without a valuable consideration. The Mor-
mons will never obtain it " by blood," as they contemplate,
and as their books teach.

" Look well to the west ! ! " Why, only think of
Western Missouri, the Eden of America, and the great
St. Louis, the Metropolis op the Western World,
with her stupendous, stately edifices, of surpassing beauty
and gorgeous, princely structure, whose future glory civic
prophets can readily see without the assistance of the
Urim and Thummim, falling into the hands of a set of
Mormon Desperadors ! ! Joe had better take another
look through his peep-stone, for he was certainly mistaken
when he made the prediction. The Lord intends that
WHITE FOLKS, Rud not Mormons, sEaJl posses s tnat goodly
l and, a land truly ** tiowmg with milk aild 'Tioney^^' — lEe
desire of nations — the glory ot the whole earth.

CHARTERS, ORIJINANCES, ETC. ETC.

When connected with the Mormons, I wrote and^ pro-
cured the passage of the following charters and ordi-
nances, with the exception of the Algerine Ordinance, My
limits will allow me to publish only a few of the ordi-
nances : the Rules of Order, and other matters connected
with the City and University, will be found in another part
of this Expose.

17

194 HISTORY OF TH£ SAINTS.

Extracts from Omference Mirhdes,

** On motion. Resoived, That a committee be appointed to drafl a
bill for the incorporating of the town of Nauvoo, and other purposes.

" Resolved, That Joseph Smith, Jr., Dr. J. C. Bennett, and R. B.
Thompson, compose said committee.

" Resolvedy That Dr. J. C Bennett be appointed delegate to Spring-
field, to urge the passage of said bill through the legislature.

" Dr. Bennett, from the committee to draft a charter for the city,
and for other purposes, reported the outlines of the same.

** On motion. Resolved, That the same be adopted."

Times and Seasons ^ Vol. I., No. 12, p. 186.

" By the politeness of Doctor Bennett, we have been favored
with the following legislative act, incorporating our City, Legion, and
University, for publication, which will, no doubt, be read with great
satisfaction by all who have an interest in tlie future greatness and
prosperity of our people ; to wit : —

" Charters of the * City of Nauvoo,' the ' Nauvoo Legion,' and the
♦University of the City of Nauvoo.'

" » AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE CITY OF NAUVOO.

- " * Sec. 1. Be it eruicted, by the people of the State of Illinois, rep-
resented in the General Assembly, That all that district of country
embraced within the following boundaries, to wit : beginning at the
north-east corner of section thirty-one, in township seven, north of
range eight, west of the fourth principal meridian, in the county
of Hancock, and running thence west to the north-west corner of
said section, thence north to the Mississippi River, thence west to
the middle of the main channel of the said river, thence down the
middle of said channel to a point due west of the south-east corner
of fractional section number twelve, in township six, north of rftnu^e
oine, west of the fourth principal meridian, thence east to the soum-
east corner of said section twelve, tlience north on the range line
between township six north and range eight and nine west, to the
south-west corner of section six, in township six, north of range
eight west, thence east to the south-east corner of said section,
thence north to the place of beginning, including the town plats of
Commerce and Nauvoo, shall hereafter be called, and known, by
the name of the ' City of Nauvoo,' and the inhabitants thereof are
hereby constituted a body corporate and politic by the name afore-
said, and shall have perpetual succession, and^may have, and use, a
common seal, which they may change, and alter, at pleasure.

"'Sec. 2. Whenever any tract of land adjoining me 'City of
Nauvoo ' shall have been laid out into town lots, and duly recorded
according to law, the same shall form a part of the * City of Nauvoo.'

" ' Sec. 3. The inhabitants of said city, by the name and style
aforesaid, shall have power to sue and be sued, to plead and be im-
pleaded, defend and be defended, in all courts of law and equity,
and in all actions whatsoever ; to purchase, receive, and hold prop
erty, real and personal, in said city; to purchase, receive, and hold
real property beyond the city for burying grounds, or for other

CHARTERS, ORDINANCES, ETC. ETC. 195

public purposes, for the use of the inhabitants of said city ; to sell,
lease, c 'nvey, or dispose of property, real and personal, for the ben-
efit of the city ; to improve and protect such property, and to do all
other thrngs in relation thereto as natural persons.

" ' Sec. 4. There shall be a City Council, to consist of a Mayor,
four Aldermen, and nine Councillors, who shall have the qualihca-
tions of electors of said city, and shall be chosen by the qualihed
voters thereof, and siiall hold their offices for two years, and until
their successors shall be elected and qualified. The City Council
shall judge of the qualifications, elections, and returns, of their own
members, and a majority of them shall form a quorum to do busi-
ness, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and com-
pel the attendance of absent members under such penalties as may
be prescribed by ordinance.

'* * Sec. 5. The Miyor, Aldermen, and Councillors, before entering
upon the duties of their offices, shall take and subscribe an oalh or
affirmation that they will support the Constitution of the United
States, and of this State, and that they will well and truly perform
the duties of their offices to the best of their skill and abilities.

" * Sec. 6. On the first Monday of February next, and every two
years thereafter, an election shall be held for the election of one
Mayor, four Aldermen, and nine Councillors ; and at the first elec-
tion under this act, three judges shall be chosen, vitM voce, by tlie
electors presf>nt ; the said judges shall choose two clerks, and the
judges and clerks, before entering upon their duties, shall take and
subscribe an oath or affirmation such as is now required by law to
be taken b^ judges and clerks of other elections ; and at aU subse-
quent elections, the necessary number of judges and clerks shall be
appointed by the City Council. At the first election so held the
polU shall be opened at 9o'clock, A. M , and closed at 6 o'clock,
r. M. ; at the close of the polls the votes shall be counted and a
statement thereof proclaimed at the front door of the house at which
said election shall be held; and the clerks shall leave with each
person elected, or at his usual place of residence, within five days
ailer the election, a written notice of his election, and each person
so notified shall within ten days after the election take the oath or
affirmation herein before mentioned, a certificate of which oath shall
be deposited with the Recorder whose appointment is hereafler pro-
vided for, and be by him preserved ; aod all subsequent elections
shall be held, conducted, and returns thereof made, as may be pro-
vided for by ordinance of the City Council.
J. 7.

i((

Sec. 7. All free white male inhabitants who are of the age of
twenty-one years, who are entitled to vote for State officers, and
who shall have been actual residents of said city sixty days next
preceding said election, shall be entitled to vote for city officers.

" * Sec. 6. The City Council shall have authority to levy and col-
lect taxes for city purposes upon all property, real ana personal,
within the limits of the city, not exceeding one half per cent, per
annum, upon the assessed value thereof, ana may enforce the pay-
ment of the same in any manner to be providea by ordinance, not
repugnant to the Constitution of the United States, or of this State.

" * c<ec. 9. The City Council shall have power to appoint a Re-
emrder, Treasurer, AsieMor, Marshal, Supervisor of Streets, and all

196 BISTORT or THE SAINTS.

such other officers as may be necessary, and to prescribe their da*
ties, and reaiove them from office at pleasure.

*^ ' Sec. 10. The City Council shall have power to require of all
officers appointed in pursuance of this act, bonds, with penalty and
security, for the faithful performance of their respective duties,
such as may be deemed expedient ; and, also, to require all officers
appointed as aforesaid to take an oatli for the faithful performance
of the duties of their respective offices.

" ' Sec. 1 J . The City Council shall have power and authority to
make, ordain, establish, and execute, all such ordinances, not repug-
nant to the Constitution of the United States, or of this State, as
tJiey may deem necessary for the peace, benefit, good order, regula-
tion, convenience, and cleanliness, of said city ; for the protection
of property therein from destruction by fire, or otherwise, and for
the health, and happiness, thereof; they shall have power to fill all
vacancies that may happen by death, resignation, or removal, in
any of the offices herein made elective ; to fix and establish all the
fees of the officers of said corporation not herein established ; to
impose such fines, not exceeding one hundred dollars, for each
ofifence, as they may deem just,, for refusing to accept any office in
or under the corporation, or for misconduct therein ; to divide the
city into wards, to add to the number of Aldermen and Councillors,
and apportion them among the several wards, as may be most just
and conducive to the interest of the city.

" ' Sec. 12. To license, tax, and regulate, auctions, merchants,
retailers, grocers, hawkers, pedlers, l>rokers, pawn-brokers, and
money-changers.

** ' Sec. 13. The City Council shall have exclusive power within
the city, by ordinance, to license, remilate, and restrain, the keeping
of ferries ; to regulate the police of me city ; to impose fines, forfeits
ures and penalties, for the breach of any cnrdinance, and provide for
the recovery of such fines and forfeitures, and the enforcement of
such penalties, and to pass such ordinances as may be necessary and
proper for carrying into execution the powers specified in this act ;
Provided^ such ordinances are Qot repugnant to the Constitution of
the United States, or of this State : and, in fine, to exercise such
other legislative powers as are conferred on the City Council of the
City of Springfield, by an act entitled ^ An Act to incorporate the
City of Springfield,' approved, February third, one thousand eight
hundred and forty.

*^ ' Sec. 14. All ordinances passed by the' City Council shall, within
one month after they shall have been passed, be published in some
newspaper printed m the city, or certified copies thereof be posted
up in three of the most public places in the city.-

'* ^ Sec. 15. All ordinances of the city may be proven by the seal
of the corporation, and when printed or published in book or pam-
phlet form, purporting to be printed or published by authority of the
corporation, the same shall be received in evidence in all courts ix
places without further proof.

** * Sec. 16. The Mayor and Aldermen shall be conservators of the

yeace within the limits of said city, and shall have all the powers of
ustices of the Peace therein, both in civil and criminal cases arisin|f
voder the laws of the State : they shall, as Justices of the Peace^

CHABTEBSy OBBINANCES, ETC. ETC. 197

within the limits of said city, perform the ifiame duties, be governed .
by the same laws, give the same bonds and secmity, as otDer Jus-
tices of the Peace, and be commissioned as Justices of the Peace in
and for said city by the Gcf^ernor.

'*^Sec. 17. The Mayor shall have exclusive jurisdiction in all
cases arising under the ordinances of the corporation, and shall issue
such process as may be necessary to carry said ordinances into exe-
cution and effect ; appeals may be had from any decision or judg-
ment of said Mayor or Aldermen, arising under the city ordinances.
to the Municipal Court, under such regulations as may be preseiitea
by ordinance ; which court shall be composed of the Mayor as Chief
Justice, and the Aldermen as Associate Justices, and ti-om the final
judgment of the Municipal Court, to the Circuit Court of Hancock
county, in the same manner as appeals are taken from judgments
of Justices of the Peace ; Provided, that the parties litigant shall
have a right to a trial by a jury of twelve men, in all cases befure
the Municipal Court. The Municipal Court shall have power to
grant writs of habeas corpus in all cases arising under the ordinances
of the City Council.

**^ ' Sec. 18. The Municipal Court shall sit on the first Monday of
every month, and the City Council at such times and place as may
be prescribed by city ordinance ; special meetings of which may at
any time be called by the Mayor or any two Aldermen.

*^^Sec. 19. AH process issued by the Mayor, Aldermen, or Mu-
nicipal Court, shall be directed to tne Marshal, and in the execution
thereof he shall be governed by the same laws as are, or may be,

f>rescribed for the direction and compensation of Constables in simi-
ar cases. The Marshal shall also perform such other duties as may
be required of him under the ordinances of said city, and shall be
the principal ministerial officer.

*^ * Sec. 20. It shall be the duty of the Recorder to make and keep
accurate records of all ordinances made by the City Council, and of
all their proceedings in their corporate capacity, which record shall
at all times be open to the inspection ot the electors of said city,
and shall perform such other duties as may be required of him by *
the ordinances of the City Council, and shall serve as Clerk of the
Municipal Court.

** < Sec. 21 . When it shall be necessary to take private property for
opening, widening, or altering, any public street, lane, avenue, or
alley, tne corporation shall make a just compensation therefor to the
person whose property is so taken, and if the amount of such conr*
pensation cannot be agreed upon, the Mayor shall cause the same to
be ascertained by a jury of six disinterested freeholders of the city.
.'* ^Sec. 22. All jurors empanneled to inquire into the amount of.
benefits or damages that sh«dl happen to the owners of property so
proposed to be taken, shall first be sworn to that effect, and shall
return to the Mayor their inquest in writing, signed by each juror.

*^^Sec. 23. In case the Mayor shall at any time be guilty of a
palpable omission of duty, or shall wilfully and corruptly be guilty
of oppression, mal-conduct, or partiality in the discharge of the du-
ties of his office, he shall be liable to be indicted in the Circuit
Court of Hancock county, and, on conviction, he sthall be fined
not more than two hundred doUan, and the court shall have power,

17»

1

ld8 H16T0BY OF THE SAINTS.

on the recommendation of the jory, to add to the judgment of the
court that h^ be removed from office.

" *■ Sec. 24. The City Council may establish and organize an in-
stitution of learning within the limits ifT the >city, for the teaching
of the arts, sciences, and learned professions, to be called the * Uni-
versity of the City of Nauvoo,' which institution shall be under the
control and management of a Board of Trustees, consisting of a
Chancellor, Registrar, and twenty-three Regents, which board shall
thereafter be a body corporate and politic, with perpetual succession,
by the name of the *■ Chancellor and Regents of the University of
the Citv of Nauvoo,' and shall have full power to pass, ordain,
establish and execute all such laws and ordinances as they may con*
sider necessary for the welfare and prosperity of said University,
its officers and students; Provided, that the said laws and ordi'
nances shall not be repugnant to the Constitution of the United
States, or of this State ; and Provided, also, that the Trustees shall
at all times be appointed by the City Council, and shall have all the
powers and privileges for the advancement of the cause of education
which appertain to the Trustees of any other College or University
of this State.

'''Sec. 25. The City Council may organize. the inhabitants of
said city, subject to military duty, into a body of independent mili-
tary men to be called the ' Nauvoo Legion,' the Court Martial of
which shall be composed of the commissioned officers of said Le-
gion, and constitute the law-making department, with full powers
and authority to make, ordain, establish, and execute all such laws
and ordinances as may be considered necessary for the benefit,

Sovernment, and regulation of said Legion ; Provided, said Court
lartial shall pass no law or act repugnant to, or inconsistent with,
the Constitution of the United States or of this State ; and Provided,
also, that the officers of the Legion shall be commissioned by the
Governor of the State. The said Legion shall perform the same
amount of military duty as is now or may be hereafter required of
the regular militia of the State, and shall be at the disposal of the
•Mayor in executing the laws and ordinances of the city corporation
and the laws of the State, and at the disposal of the Governor for
the public defence, and the execution of the laws of the State or of
the United States, and shall be entitled to their proportion of the
public arms ; and Provided, also, that said Legion shall be exempt
from ail other military duty.

" ' Sec. 26. The inhabitante of the « City of Nauvoo' are hereby
exempted from working on any road beyond the limits of the ci^,
and for the purpose of keeping the streets, lanes, avenues, and alleys,
in repair, to require of the male inhabitants of said city, over the age
of twenty-one, and under fifty years, to labor on said streets, lanes,
avenues, and alleys, not exceeding three day|( in each year ; any
person failing to perform such labor when duly notified by the Su?
pervisor, shall forfeit and pay the sum of one dollar per day for each
day so neglected or refused.

»* * Sec. 27. The City Council shall have power to provide fc^the
punishment of offenders, by imprisonment in the county or city jail,
m all cases when such offenders shall fail or refuse to pay the nnep
and forfeiturss which may he recovered against them.

CHARTEBS, ORDINANCES, ETC. ETC. 199

** * Sec. 28. This act is hereby declared to be a pablic act, and shall
take effect on the first Monday of February next.

"'Wm. L. D. Ewisg,
it * Speaker of the House of Representatives.
"'S. U. Andersok,

" ' Speaker ofJie Senate.
'' 'Approved, December 16, 1840.

"*Tho. Carlin."'

" Stats of Illinois, )

Office of SEcaciART of State. )

" I, Stephen A. Douglass, Secretary of State, do hereby certify
that the foregoing is a true and perfect copy of the enrolled law now
on file in my office.

Tr a 1 *' Witness my hand, and Seal of State, at Springfield,

L^* "J this 18th day of December, A. D. 1840.

'^ S. A. Douglass,

" Secretary of State.'*

** The following are the legislative powers alluded to in the 19th
section of the foregoing act, as pertainmg to the City Council of the
city of Springfield, and which, consequenlly, become a part of the
charter of the city of Nauvoo ; to wit : —

iiiOF THE LEGISLATrVE POWERS OP THE CITY COUNCIL.

'* *" Sec. 1 . The City Council shall have powers and authority to
levy and collect taxes upon all property, real and personal, within
the city, not exceeding one half per cent, per annam upon the as-
sessed value thereof, and may enforce the "payment of tiie same in
any manner prescribed by ordinance not repugnant to the Constitu-
tion of the United States and of this State.

" * Sec. 2. The City Council shall have power to require of all
officers appointed in pursuance of this charter, bonds, with penalty
and security for the faithful performance of their respective duties,
as may be deemed expedient, and also to require all officers appoint-
ed as aforesaid to take an oath for the faithful performance of the
duties of their respective offices upon entering upon the discharge
of the same.

^* * Sec. 3. To establish, support, and regulate common schools, to
borrow money on the credit of the city ; Provided, That no sum or
sums of money shall be borrowed at a greater interest than six per
cent, per annum, nor shall the interest on the aggregate of all the
sums borrowed and outstanding ever exceed one half of the city
revenue arising for taxes assessed on real property within the
corporation.

'*^Sec. 4. To make regulations to prevent the introduction of
contagious diseases into the city, to make quarantine laws for that
purpose, and enforce the same.

*' *■ Sec. 5. To appropriate and provide for the payment of the debt
[and] expenses of the city.

800 mSTORY OF THE SAINTS.

^ ' Sec. 6. To establish hospitals, and make regulations for the
government of the same.

" ^ Sec. 7. To make regulations to secure the general health of the
inhabitants, to declare what shall be a nuisance, and to prevent and
remove the same.

" ' Sec. 8. To provide the city virith vrater, to dig wells and erect
pumps in the streets for the extinguishment of fires, and convenience
of the inhabitants.

** * Sec. 9. To open, alter, widen, extend, establish, grade, pave, or
otherwise improve and keep in repair streets, avenues, lanes, and
alleys.

" * Sec. 10. To establish, erect, and keep in repair, bridges.

" * Sec. 11. To divide the city into wards, and specify the bounda-
ries thereof, and create additional wards, as the occasion may require.

^* ' Sec. 12. To provide for lighting the streets and erectmg lamp*
posts.

" ^ Sec. 13. To establish, support, and regulate night watches.

'^ * Sec. 14. To erect market-houses, establish markets and market-
places, and provide for the government and regulation thereof.

"'Sec. 15. To provide for ejecting all needful buildings for the
use of the city.

'' ' Sec. 16. To provide for enclosing, improving, [and] regulatin^f
all public grounds belon^ng to the city.

" ' Sec. 17. To license, tax, [and] regulate auctioneers, merchants,
and retailers, grocers, taverns, ordinaries, hawkers, pedlers, brokers,
pawn-brokers, and money-changers.

" * Sec. 18. To license, tax, and regulate hacking, carriages, wag-
ons, carts, and drays, and fix the rates to be charged for the carriage
of persons, and for the wagonage, cartage, and drayage of property.

** *■ Sec. 19. To license and regulate porters, and fix the rates of
porterage.

" ' Sec. 20. To license and regulate theatrical and other exhibi-
tions, shows, and amusements.

"*Sec. 21. To tax, restrain, prohibit, and suppress tipplinv-
houses, dram-shops, gaming-houses, bawdy and other disorderly
houses.

" ' Sec. 22. To provide for the prevention and extinguishment of
fires, and to organize and establish fire companies.

" ' Sec. 23. To regulate the fixing of chimneys and the flues
thereof, and stove-pipes.

**^ Sec. 24. To regulate the storage of gunpowder, tar, pitch,
rosin, and other combustible materials.

".' Sec. 25. To regulate and order parapet walls and partition
fences.

" ' Sec. 26. To establish standard weights and measures, and
regulate the weights and measures to be used in Uie city, in all
other cases not provided for by law.

"* Sec. 27. To provide for the inspection and measuring of lum-
ber and other building materials; and for the measurement of all
kinds of mechanical work.

" * Sec. 28. To provide for the inspection and weighing of hav,
lime, and stone coal, the measuring of charcoal, firewood, and other
fuel, to be sold or used within the city.

CHABTSRS, ORDINANCES, ETC. ETC. 201

" * Sec. 29. To provide for. and regulate the inspection of tobacco,
and of beef, pork, flour, meal, and v^bisky in barrels.

"'Sec. 30. To regulate the weight, quality, and price of bread
sold and used in the city.

*^ ' Sec. 31. To provide for taking the enumeration of the inhab-
itants of the city.

** * Sec. 32. To regulate the election of city officers, and provide
for removing from office any person holding an office created by
ordinance.

" * Sec. 33. To fix the compensation of all city officers, and regu-
late the fees of jurors, witnesses, and others, for services rendered
under this act or any ordinance.

" * Sec. 34. To regulate the police of the city, to impose fines,
and forfeitures, and penalties, for the breach of any ordinance, and
provide for the recovery and appropriation of such fines and forfeits
ures, and the enforcement of such penalties.

" * Sec. 35. The City Council shall have exclusive power within
the city, by ordinance, to license, regulate, and suppress and re-
strain billiard tables, and from one to twenty pin alleys, and every
other description of gaming or gambling.

" * Sec. 36. The City Council shall have power to make all ordi-
nances which shall be necessary and proper for carrving into exe-
cution the powers specified in this act, so that such ordinance be
not repugnant to, nor inconsistent with, the Constitution of the
United States or of this State.

" * Sec. 37. The style of the ordinances of the city shall be :
•* Be it ordained by the City Council of the city of Springfield."

"*.Sec. 38. All ordinances passed by the City Council shall,
within one month after they shall have been pajssed, be published
in some newspaper published in the city, and shall not be in force
nntil they shall have been published as aforesaid.

" * Sec. 39. All ordinances of the city may be proven by the seal
of the corporation, and when printed and published by authority of
the corporation, the same shall be received in evidence in all courts
and places without further proof .^ ' "

Times and Seasons^ Vol. II., No. 6, p. 281 — ^236.

« NAUVOO LEGION.

" By a letter from the Hon. S. H. Little, of the State Senate, to
General Bennett, it appears that the following additional section in
relation to our Legion, recently forwarded to Esquire Little by (Jen-
eral Bennett, has become a law, to wit : —

" ' Any citizen of Hancock county ^ may, by voluntary enrolmnU^
aitfich himself to the Kauvoo Legiony with all the privileges which
appertain to that independent military body,^

"This is quite a privilege; and we say to our friends — Come
on and enroll yourselves, so that there may be a perfect organization
bv the 42/i ofJvly next — which day we wish to celebrate with appro*

902 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

priate military honors. The Legion will be called out, likewise, otk
the 6M of^prilJ' — Times and Seasons, Vol. XL, No. 8, p. 320.

" AN ACT

TO INCORPORATE THE NAUVOO AGRICULTURAL AND MANU-
FACTURING ASSOCIATION IN THE COUNTY OF HANCOCK.

<*Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois
represented in the General Assembly, That Sidney Ri^don, Geor^
W. Robinson, Samuel James, Wilson Law, Daniel H. Wells, Hyrum
Smith, George Miller, William Marks, Peter Haws, Vinson Knight,
John Scott, D. C. Smith, William Huntington. Sen., Ebenez^T Rob-
inson, R. B Thompson, William Law, James Allred, John T. Har-
nett, Theodore Turley, John C Bennett, Elias Hierbee, Isaac Higbee,
Joseph Smith, A. Cutler, Israel Barlow, R. D. Foster, John F. Ol-
ney, John Snider, Leonard Soby, Orson Pratt, James Kelly, Sidney
Knowiton, John r. Greene, John F. Weld, and their associates and
successors, are hereby constituted a body corporate and politic, by
the name of the Nauvoo Affricultural and Manufacturing Associa-
tion, and by that name shali be capable of suing and being sued,
pleading and being impleaded, answering and being answered, in all
courts and places, and may have a common seal, and may alter the
same at pleasure.

'* Sec. 2. The sole object and purpose of said association shall
be for the promotion of agriculture and husbandry in all its branches,
and for the manufacture of flour,iuml^r, and such other useful arti-
cles as are necessary for the ordinary purposes <^lire.

" Sec. 3. The capital stock of said association shall be one hun-
dred thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing it to the sum
of three hundred thousand dollars, to be divided into shares of fifly
dollars, which shall be considered personal property, and be assign-
able in such manner as the said corporation may by its by-laws
provide; which capital stock shall be exclusively devoted to the
object and purposes set forth in the second section of this act, and
to no other object and purposes, and to the same end the said corpo-
ration shall have power to purchase, hold, and convey real estate and
other property to the. amount of its capital.

" Sec. 4. Said corporation shall have power by its Trustees, or a
majority of them present at any regularly "^iaHed meeting, to make
by-laws for its own government, for the purpose of carrying out the
objects of this association, Prrreidedy the same are not repugnant to
the laws and Constitution of this State, or of the United Stntes.

** Sec. 5. Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdoo, and William Law, shall
be commissioners to receive subscriptions for, and distribute said
capital stock for said corporation ; said commissioners, or a majority
of them, shall within six months afler the passage of this act, either
by themselves or their duly-appointed agents, open a subscription
book fr)r said stock, at such times and places as they shall appoint,
and at the time of subscription for such stock, at least ten per cent,
upon each share subscribed for shall be paid to said commissi* ners,
er their daly-appomted agents, and the remainder of said stock so

CHARTERS, ORDINANCES/ ETC. ETC. 209

subscribed for, shall be paid in such sums, and at such times, as shall
be provided for by the by -laves of said corporation.

" Sec. 6. In case the stock of said corporation shall not all be
taken up within one year Irom the passage of this act, ihe duties of
said commissioners shall cease, and the Trustees of said corporation,
or a quorum thereof, may thereafter receive subscriptions to said
stock from time to time until the whole shall be subscribed.

/* Sec. 7. The stock, property and concerns of said corporation
shall be managed by twenty Trustees, who shall be stockholders of
said corporation, any five of whom, to be- designated by a majority of
the Trustees, shall form a quorum for the transaction of all ordinary
business of said corporation, the election of which Trustees shall be
. annual. The first-mentioned twenty persons, whose names are re-
cited in the firs( section of this act, shall be the first Trustees of said
corporation, and shall hold their offices until the first Monday in
September, A. D. 1841, and until others shall be elected in their
places.

^* Sec. 8. The Trustees of said corporation for every subsequent
year, ahall be elected on the first Monday of September in each and
every year, at such place as the Trustees for the time being shall
appoint, and of which election they shall give at least fifteen days'
previous notice, bv advertisement in some newspaper in or near the
city of Nauvoo. At every election of Trustees, each stock holder shall
be entitled to one vote on each share of stock owned by him, PrO'
vided, that no stockholder shall be entitled to more than twenty
Votes, and said stockholders may vote either in person or by proxy.
The election for Trustees shall be conducted in such manner as shall
be pointed out by the by-laws of said corporation, and whenever a
vacancy shall happen by death, resignation, or otherwise, among the
Trustees, the remaining Trustees shsul have power to fill such vacancy
until the next general election for Trustees.

'^ Sec. 9. The Trustees of said corporation, as soon as may be afler
their appointment or election under this act, shall proceed to elect
out of Uieir number a President, Treasurer, and Secretary, who shall
respectively hold their offices during one year, and until others shall
be elected to fill their places, and whose duties shall be defined and
prescribed by the by-laws of the corporation, jand said Trustees shall
also appoint such agrents and other persons as may be necessary to
conduct the proper business, and accomplish the declared objects of
said corporation, and shall likewise have power to fill any vacancy
occasioned by the death, resignation or removal of any officer of said
corporation.

*^Sec. 10. This act shall be construed as a public act, and con-
tinue in force for the period of twenty years. • And the Trustees
appointed under the provisions of this act, shall hold their first
meeting at the city of Kauvoo, on the first Monday of April, A. D.
1841. " Wm. L. D. Ewing,

'* Speaker of the House of Representatives.
"S. H. Anobrson,

<< Speaker of the Senate.

^* Approved, February 27, 1841.

"Tho. Carlin."

d04 HISTORY OF THS SAINTS.

"Stats op Iixinois, i

Office or Secretart of State, j

** I, Lyman TrambuU, Secretary of State, do hereby certify the
foregoing to be a true and perfect copy of the enrolled law on file in
.my otiice.

^* Given under my band, and Seal of State, Springfield, March
10, 1841.

*< Lyman Trumbull,

" Secretary of State."

Times and Seasons^ Vol. II., No. 10, pp. ii5o, 356.

"AN ACT
TO INCORPORATE THE NAUVOO HOUSE ASSOCIATION.

" Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois
represented in the Greneral Assembly, That George Miller, Lyman
Wiffht, John Snider, and Peter Haws and their associates are hereby
declared a body corporate, under the name and style of the *■ Naunoo
House Association^' and they are hereby authorized to erect and
furnish a public house of entertainment to be called the ^ Nauvoo
House.'

^* Sec. 2. The above-named George Miller, Lyman Wight,
John Snider, and Peter Haws, are hereoy declared to be the Trus-
tees of said association, with full power and authority to hold in
joint tenancy by themselves and their successors in office, a certain
lot in the city of Nauvoo, in the county of Hancock, and state of
Illinois, known and designated on the plot of said city, as the south
hal^of lot numbered fifty-si:^, for the purpose df erecting thereon the
house contemplated in the first section oi this act.

" Sec. 3. The said Trustees are further authorized and em-
powered to obtain by stock subscription, by themselves or their duly
authorized agents, the sum of one hundred and fifly thousand
dollars, which shall be divided into shares of fifly dollars each.

" Sec. 4. No individual shall be permitted to hold more than
three hundred nor less than one shares of stock, and certificates of
stock shall be delivered to subscribers, so soon as their subscriptions
are paid in, and not before.

** Sec. 5. As* soon as the above contemplated house shall have
been completed and furnished, tlie stockholders shall appoint such
agents, as the Trustees may deem necessary in the management of
the affairs of said association.

" Sec. 6. The Trustees shall have power to sue and be sued,
plead and be impleaded in any court of this State, in the name and
style of the * Trustees of the Nauvoo House Association.'

" Sec. 7. They shall also take the general care and supervision
in procuring materials for said house and constructing and erecting
the same, and further to superintend its genenil management, and to
do and perform all matters and things which may be necessary to be
done, in order to secure tlie interests and promote the objects of this
associirion.

*' Sec. 8. This association shall continue twenty years from tfaa

OHARTSRfl, OIU>mAN€SS, ETC. ETC. S03

paaiage of this act, and the house herein provided for, shall be kept
zbr the accommodation of strangers, travellers, and all otiier persons
who may resort thereto, for rest and refreshment.

^^ Sec. 9. It is moreover established as a perpetual rule of said
house, to be observed by all persons who may keep or occupy the
same, that spirituous liquors of every description are prohibited, and
that such liquors shall never be vended as a beverage, or introduced
into common use, in said house.

'* Sec. 10. And whereas Joseph Smith has furnished the said
association with the ground whereon to erect said house, it is further
de6lared, that the said Smith and his heirs shall hold by perpetual
succession a suite of rooms in the said house, to be set apart and con-
veyed in due form of law to him and his heirs by saia Trustees as
soon as the sathe are completed.

** Sec. 11. The Board of Trustees shall appoint one of their
number as president thereof.

" Wm. L. D. Ewing,
*' Speaker of the House of RepreserUiUvces,

" S. H. Anderson,

'' Speaker of the Senate.
** Approved, February 23, 1841.

»* Tho. Carlin."

" St4Tb or Tlurois, }

Office of Secbetart of State. )

" I, Lyman Trumbull, Secretary of State, do hereby certify the
foregoing to be a true and perfect copy of the enrolled law on file in
my office.

'•'' Given under my hand, and Seal of State, Springfield, March
10, 1841. Ltman Trumbull,

Secretary of State."

Times and Seasons^ Vol. II., No. 11, pp. 370, 371.

" OFFICERS OF THE CITY OF NAUVOO.

" Mayor : John C. Bennett. — Recorder : James Sloan. — Attorney:
Sidney Rigdon. — JVotary Public: E.Robinson. — Marshal: H. 6.
Sherwood. — Marshal ad interim : D. B. Huntington. — TVeasurer:
John S. Fulmer. — Surveyor : A. Ripley. — Assessor and Collector .
Lewis Robison. — Supervisor of Streets : James Allred. — Weigher
and Sealer : Theodore Turley . — Market Master : Stephen Marknam.
— Sexton : W. O. Huntington.

" First Ward.

*^ Aldermen: Samuel H. Smith, Hiram Kimball. — Councillors.
John P. Green, Vinson Knight, Orson Pratt, Willard Richards. —
High Constable : D. B. Huntmgton.

" Second Ward^
" Aldermen : N. K. Whitney, Orson Spencer. — CaundUors: Hy»
18 *

206 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

rum Smith, Lyman Wight, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor. —
HigU Constable: George Morey.

" Third Ward.

" Aldermen : Daniel H. Wells, Gustavus Hills. — Councillors .*
John T. Barnett, C C. Rich, Hugh McFall, H. C. Kimball.—
High Constable : Lewis Robison.

" Fourth Ward-

** Aldermen : William Marks, George W. Harris. — Councillors :
Joseph Smith, Wilson Law, Brigham Young, William Law. —
High Constable : W. D. Huntington.

" The City Council consists of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Coun-
cillors, and sits on the first and third Saturday of every month^
commencing at 6 o'clock, P. M.

" Municipal Court.

" Chief Justice: John C. Bennett. — Associate Justices: Samuel
H. Smith, Hiram Kimball, N. K. Whitney, Orson Spencer, Daniel
H. Wells, Gustavus Hills, Will^jain Marks, George W. Harris. —
Clerk : James Sloan.

" The Municipal Court sits on the first Monday in every month,
commencing at 10 o'clock, A. M.

** Mayor's Court.

** This is the Criminal Court of the city, and sits at such times
as the business of the city requires — the Mayor presiding."

Times and Seasons, Vol. UI., No. 4, p. 638.

"AN ORDINANCE
IN RELATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

" Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the city of
Nauvoo, That should any member of the City Counc'd absent him-
self from, or neglect or refuse to attend, any regular or special meet-
ing of said Council, for more than thirty minutes afler the time
appointed, or should the Marshal or Recorder be jguilty of a like
onence, he shall be fined in the sum of two dollars tor each offence.

'^ Sec. 2. Should any member of said Council neglect, or refuse,
to attend said meeting, forthwith, on a summons m)m the Mayor,
served by the Marshal, or special messenger of said Council, he shall
be fined in the sum of twenty-five dollars, for each oflence ; Pro-
vided, That the City Council may, on good cause shown, remit any
fine herein, or by this ordinance, assessed.

" Sec. 3. The above fines to be collected as other debts before
the Mayor, at the suit of the city corporation. This ordinance to
take efiect, and be in force, from and alter its passage.

«' Passed, February 8, A. D. 1841.

" John C. Bennett, Mayor.

** James Sloan, Recorder."

I Times and Seasons, Vol. II., No. 8, p. 322.

CHABTERS, OBDINANCES, ETC. ETC. 907

"AN ORDINANCE

FIXING THE COMPENSATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AND

FOR OTJIER PURPOSES.

" Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the city of Nau-
voo, That from and ailer the passage of this ordinance, the City
Council shall meet on the second {Saturday of ^ very month, at 10
o'clock, A. M., and shall continue in session during the day, and
evening, if the business of the city requires it — allowing one hour
for dinner, and one for supper; and the said monthly meetings shall
be called * The Regular Meetings of the City Council.'

" Sec. 2. Each member of the City Council and the Recorder,
and Marshal, shall be allowed two dollars per day for attendance,
cooperation, and services, at said regular meetings ; and each per-
8on aforesaid, shall be fined in the sum of two dollars for negiectmg
to attend at any such regular meeting, without an excuse satisfactory
to the City Council ; and for each part of a day so attended, or
neglected, a proportionate allowance, or fine, shall be granted,, or
assessed, as the case may be.

" Sec. 3. It is hereby made the duty of the Recorder to keep a
just and accurate record of the members present, including the Re*
corder and Marshal, at every such refi^ular meeting, together with a
fall list of absentees, which list shall be returned to l£e Mayor for
collection of fines quarterly.

" Sec. 4- Special meetmgs of the City Council, called by order
of the Mayor, by summons or otherwise, shall be governed by tho
aforesaid regulations.

" Sec. 5. All ordinances, or parts of ordinances, contrary to the
provisions of this ordinance, are hereby repealed. This ordinance
to take effect, and be in force, from and afler its passage.

" Passed January 22,-A, D. 1842.

'' John C. Bennett, Mayor.

*' James Sloan, Recorder"

Times and Seasons^ Vol. III., No. 8, p. 701 .

By what stupid knave the following nondescript Alge*
rine Ordinance was penned I am unable to say. Suffice it
to observe, it is in open contravention of the constitutional
and statute laws, and a palpable violation of vested char-
tered rights. I give it as it is, as a civic curiosity.

Fhm « The {Miuvoo) Wasp " of August 13, 1842,

"AN ORDINANCE

REGULATING THE MODE OP PROGBBDING IN CASES OF HABEAS
CORPUS, BEFORE THE MUNICIPAL COURT.

" Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the city of Nau-
Too, That in all cases where any person or persons, shall at any

208 HisTcmv or th]& sjonts.

time hereafler, be arrested, or under arrest, in this city, under any
writ or process, and shall be brought before tlie Municipal Court of
this city, by virtue of a writ of Habeas Corpus, the court shall in
every such case iiave power and authority and are hereby required
to examine into the origin, validity, and legality of the writ or pro-
cess, unddr which such arrest was made, and if it shall appear to
the (ifourt upon sufficient testimony, that said writ or process was
illegally or not legally issued, or did not proceed IVom proper au-
thority, then the court shall dischargie the prisoner from under said
arrest, but if it sUall appear to tiie court, that said writ or process
bad issued from proper authority, and was a legal process, the court
shall then proceed and fully hear the merits of the case, upon which
such arrest was made, upon such evidence as may be produced and
8Worn before said court, and shall have power to adjourn the hear-
ing, and also issue process from time to time in their discretion, in
order to procure the attendance of witnesses, so that a fair and
impartial trial and decision may be obtained in every such case.

**Sec. 2. And be it further ordained. That if upon investigation
it shall be proven before the Municipal Court, that the writ or process
has been issued, either through private pique, nmlicioUs intent, re-
Hgious or other persecution, falsehood or misrepresentation, contrary
to the Constitution of this State, or of the United States, the said
writ or process shall be quashed and considered of no force or effect^
and the prisoner or prisoners shall be released and discharged tliere-
from.

*' Sec. 3. And be it also further ordained. That in the absence,
sickness, debility, or other circumstances disqualifying or preventing
the Mayor from officiating in his office, as Chief Justice of tho
Municipal Court, the aldermen present shall appoint one from
amongst them, to act as Chief Justice pro tempore.

^^ Sec. 4. This ordinance to take effect, and be in force, from and
after its passage. Hyrom Sufif h,

** Vice-Mayor and President pro tempore.

^* Passed August 8, 1842. "James Sloan, Recorder.'*

The Sangamo Journal of September 2, 1842, in com-
menting upon this ordinance for the protection of Mormon
culprits and outlaws, concocted, probably, and passed by
the influence of the Mormon Collegium de Propaganda
Fide, for the especial protection (>f Joe Smith and other
murderers and criminals, very justly remarks, —

" We copy the above ordinance in order to show our readers the
barefaced enrontery with which the holy brotherhood at'Nauvoo set
at defiance the civil authorities of the State. No man having claims
to even an ordinary share of common sense, -can ever believe that
there is the least shadow of authority in the City Council of Nau-
voo to pass such an ord'mance as the above ; indeed the legislature
of this State has not power to do it. The City Charter gives to the
Municipal Court power to issue writs of Habeas Corpus. Evidently
ttiia power is only sranted in reference to eases of arrest und«r thie

CHABTfiBS, ORDINANCES, ETC. ETC. 209

manicipal laws, snd, by the most latitudinarian constraction, cannot
be made to extend to cases of an arrest under the laws of the State ;
but this Mormon ordinance not only extends to all cased of arrest,
but sets the laws of the United States at defiance, by giving author-
ity to the Municipal Court to inquire into the causes or the arrest —
a power which even the legislature of this State cannot confer.

^* By the Constitution and laws of the United States, the Grovernor
of this State is bound to deliver up fugitives from justice on the re^
quisition of the Governor of any other State ; and the judiciary of
this State have no right to inquire, under any circumstances, into any
thing further than the sufficiency of the writ on which the arrest is
tnade. If this is in due form, and properly served, there is no
power for any tribunal in this State to make any further inquiry.
The guilt or mnocence of the accused must be aetermined by the
courts of the ^tate from whence the requisition issued ; and any
court of law, which institutes any inquiry of this nature, oversteps
the boundaries of its jurisdiction, and openly sets at defiance the
laws of the land.

** Now, we ask our citizens, what think you of this barefaced de-
fiance of our laws by the City Council of Nauvoo? and, if persisted
in, what must be the final result? If these things are sneered to
pass unheeded by the authorities of this State, who is safe, whether
m his person or property ? A Mormon cut-throat may take the life
of one of our citizens, and returning to the City of the Saints, set
at defiance the laws of the land.

*' Independent of the ordinance above quoted, which was ev-
idently designed to give some semblanbe of legality to the protec*

tion of criminals, we l)elieve that the Mormon Church is just such a
body a s can be shelter to every b lackleg, cut- throat, or norse-thief,
wlnj cliUl^s es to tak^ r^fdgg UmilUgm tUBUi. While unde i l I lF pr o-
tectioirof Joe) who^ ^qan^hiwgtt^^thg gaj- ^ lu tp aiiB haB ftfi 61 ! n^er of
either discovenng "or ArrestW3^'^lnian^8li^lfFfegn6^^
regabrd" the laws <h the land as secondary "lo the "conmi'andso? their
Prophet .V

This is an act of *' outlawry" with a vengeance ! The
Mormon Prophet places himself above the operation of the
laws, and pats at defiance every principle of criminal juris-
prudence, and the legitimately-constituted authorities of his
country ! 1 ! Sic transit gloria mundi ! But must these
things be tolerated? Never! No, Never!! NO,
NEVER ! ! ! Retributive justice must put forth the arm
of power, and pass from the forum to the field, if that be
necessary, to capture refugees and fugitives from justice,
and make them bow to the supremacy of the laws. Good
officers cannot, will not, long be foiled in the execution of
a high public trust, and one, too, in which every citizen
of the commonwealth is so deeply interested.

18*

210 HI9TOBT or TH9 SAtNT9«

UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY OF NAUVOO.

Board of Regents.

Chancellor: Gen. John C. Bennett, M. D. — Registrar: Gen.
William Law. — Regents: Cten. Joseph Smith, Sidney Ri^don, Esq.,
Attorney at Law, Gen. Hyrum Smith, Rev. William JVfarks, Rev.
Samuel H. Smith, Daniel H. Wells, Esq., Bishop N. K. Whitney,
Gen. Charles C. Rich, Capt. John T. Barnett, Gen. Wilson Law,
Rev. John P. Greene, Bishop Vinson Knight, Isaac Galland, M. D.,
Judge Elias Higbee, Rev. Hobert D. Foster, M. D., Judge James
Adams, Rev. Samuel Bennett, M. O., Ebenezer Robinson, Esq.,
Rev. John Snider, Rt. Rev. George Miller, Lenos M. Knight, M. D.,
Rev. John Taylor, and Rev. Hel^r C. Kimball.

, Faculty.

James Kelly, A. M., President.

Orson Pratt, A. M., Professor of Mathematics and English later-
ature.

Orson Spencer, A. M., Professor of Langaages.
Sidney Rigdon, D. D., Professor of Church History,

School Wardens for Common Schools.

Wardens of First Ward: John* P. Greene, N. K. Whitney, and
A. Morrison.

Wardens of Second Ward: Charles C. Rich, Wilson Law, and
Elias Higbee.

Wardens of Third Ward: Daniel H. Wells, R. D. Foster, and S.
Winchester. ,

Wardens of Fourth Ward : Vinson Knight, William Law, and E.
• Robinson.

President Kelly is a graduate of Trinity College, Dub-
lin, and is a ripe scholar.

Professor Pratt is a self-made ^man, and has had to en-
counter great difficulties in the acquisition of an edu-
cation ; but be has surmounted them all. As a teacher
of mathematics and English literature he is equalled by
few, and surpassed by none, this side of the great waters,
as the proficiency of the matriculates of the university
under his care and tuition abundantly testifies. He is a
gentleman of the first order of talents — than whom there
is, probably, no better man on earth.

Professor Spencer is a graduate of Uni<Nt College,
N. Y., in the arts, and of the Baptist Literary and Theo-
logical Seminary, N. Y., in divinity.

Professor Rigdon has long been regarded, by both ta^^

$

CHARTB&Sy ORDINANCES, CTC. £TC. 211

.mies and friends, as an accomplished belles-lettres scholar
and eloquent orator, possessing both the suaviter in modo
and i\i& fortiter in re, — deeply learned in that department
of collegiate education which has been assigned him in the
university. His character, and that of his entire family,
is considered abore reproach. Nothing can be brought
against him', I am persuaded, but his connection with the
Book of Mormon and Mormonism.

**UwiTBR8iTT OF TH» CiTY or Nautoo, Illinoifl, jfu^iut 10, A. D. I84I.

** The Regents of the University of the City of Nauvoo will con-
vene at the office of General Joseph Smith, on Saturday, the 4th
day of September, proximo, at half past 10 o'clock, A. JVf., for the
transaction of important business. Punctual attendance is requested.

'* The Department of English Literature is now in successful
operation under the supervision of Professor Orson Pratt — a gentle-
man of varied knowledge and extensive acquirements, who is ad-
mirably qualified for the full execution of the high trust reposed in
him, as an able and accoinplished teacher

'^ In this department, a general Course of Mathematics, including
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Conic Sections, Plane Trigonom-
etry, Mensuration, Surveying, Navigation, Analytical, Plane and
Spherical Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry, and the Differential
and Integral Calculus ; — Philosophy ; — Astronomy ; — Chemistry j
— etc. etc., will be extensively taught.

** Tuition. — Five Dollars per quarter, payable semi-quarterly,
in advance.

" John C. Bennett, Chancellor.

" William Law, JUgistrary

Timta and Seasons^ Vol. II., No. 20, p. 517.

NAUVOO LEGION.

This military organization comprises between two and
three thousand well-disciplined troops, and constitutes a
portion of the militia of the State of Illinois ; and might »
under proper management, be made very useful to the
country. It is a division divided into two cohorts, or
brigades, and these cohorts subdivided into regiments,
battalions, and companies. The organization is intended
to represent a Roman legion. I have not space in this
Expose for the full rank-roll, and must, therefore, content
myself with giving the names of a few of the most accom-
plishedv brave, and efficient of the corps; and amongst
them I wQuld ORumeratAy —

213 HISTORY OF THE SAI19TS.

Gen. George W. Robinson, Capt. C. M. Kreymyer,
Gen. Charles C. Rich, Col. John F. Weld, M. D., Col.
Orson Pratt, A. M., Capt. Darwin Chase, Col. Francis M.
Higbee, CoL Carlos Gove, Col. Chauncey L. Higbee,
Capt. John F. Olney, Capt. Justus Morse, Gen. Davison
Hibard, Gen. Hiram Kimball, Capt. William M. Allred,
Gen. W. P. Lyon, Capt. L. N. Scovil, Capt. Charles Allen,
Col. James Sloan, Lieut. Stephen H. Goddard, Capt. Mar-
cellus Bates, Col. George Schindle, Col. Amasa Lyman,
Col. D. B. Smith, Col. George Coulson, M:D., Col.
Alexander McRea, Gen. A. P. Rockwood, Capt. Amos
Davis, Col. Jacob B. Backenstos, Capt. Samuel Hicks,
Col. L. Wood worth, and some others of the staff and line.

Joseph Smith, the Lieuten ant-General, is a military
novice of the first water and magnitude, scarcely knowing
the difference between a general and a corporal — if it
only has the ral as the suffix, Joe is therewith content.
By the bye, however, the office of Lieuten ant-General is
unknown to the Constitution of the State, and is, therefore,
a nullity. There are, likewise, various other officers who
would disgrace the forces of His Tartarean Majesty,
amongst whom I would enumerate Gen. Robert D. Foster,
M. D., Maj. Willard Richards, Maj. Hosea Stout, Capt.
D. B. Huntington, and others of the staff and line.

The troops are very tractable, and obedient to the word
of command, and conduct themselves on parade in a highly
creditable and the most orderly manner — a la mlitaire.

"COURT MARTIAL OP THE NAUVOO LEGION.

"Ordinance No. 1.

** Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the Court Martial of the Nauvoo
Legion in general court assembled, Th^t the discipline, drill, rules,
regulations, and uniforms of the United States' Army, so far as ap-
plicable, be and they hereby are adopted for the Legion ; Provided,
That each company may adopt its own uniform for the non-commis-
sioned officers and privates bplonging to it.

" Sec. 2. That from and after the 15th day of April next, it shall
be the duty of every white male inhabitant of the city of Nauvoo,
between eighteen and forty-five years of age, to enroll himself in
some company of the Legion, by reporting himself t^o the Captain
thereof, within fifteen days ; and every person neglecting or refusing
to do so shall, on conviction thereof before a regular court martial,
forfeit and pay the sum of one dollar, and the further sum of one
dollar for every subsequent fifteen days' neglect.

" Sec, 3. The Legion shall hold a genend pende en the Ist Satnr- '

r

CHABTERS^ ORDINANCES, ETC. ETC. 213

day of May and September, and the 4th day of July, (the 3d when
the 4th coines on Sunday,) in, or near the city of I^auvoo ; a bat-
talion parade on the 3d Saturday of June and October, in their re-
spective precincts; a company parade on the 4th Saturday of April,
June, and August, in their respective precincts; and an officer drill
on the Thursday and Friday preceding each general parade, in the
city of Nauvoo ; and such other musters or parades as the JUieuten-^
ant- General, and the Major-General, may jointly direct, in each
year : and any non-commissioned officer, musician, or private, who
shall neglect or refuse to appear on said days, shall be fined in the
sum of one dollar for each company, or battalion parade, and two
dollars for each general parade — and the commissioned officers neg-
lecting or refusing to appear in their appropriate places on parade
shall be fined in the following sums, to wit: the Lieutenant- General
and the Major-General — thirty dollars; Brevet Major- Generals and
Brigadier* Generals — twenty-nve dollars ; Colonels — fifleen dollars ;
Lieutenant-Colonels and Majors — ten dollars; Captains — six dol-
lars; Lieutenants — four dollars; and every commissioned officer,
non-commissioned officer, musician, or private, who shall neglect or
refuse to uniform himself in full, ailer the lapse of eight months
from^the passage of this act, shall be fined in the same sums, in ad
dition, for each day of parade — every commissioned officer, non
commissioned officer, or musician, who shall neglect or refuse to at-
tend officer drills, shall be fined in half the sums aforesaid — and
any commissioned officer who shall neglect or refuse to attend their
appropriate courts martial shall be fined in one half the sums afore-
said — and any commissioned officer neglecting, or refusing, to dis-
charge any duty devolving upon him shall, in addition, be cashiered
and dis^aced, by a general court martial, detailed by the Major-
General by order of the Lieutenant- Greneral : Provided, always,
That all members of this corporation, who are unable to attend
parades on account of sickness in their families, or anv other reason--
able ezcuse, satisfactory to the court martial, shall, mr the time be-
ing, be exempt from all such fines.

" Sec. 4. That no person whatever, residing within the limits of
the city of Nauvoo, of fifteen days' residence, between the ages of
18 and 45 years, excepting such as are exempted by the laws of the
United States, shall be exempt from niilitary duty, unless exempted
by a special act of the court martial of the Legion ; or a certificate
of inability, under oath, signed by the Lieutenant- General, counter-
signed by the Surgeon- General, and recorded by the Major- Gen-
eraFs War Secretary.

" Sec. 5. Each regimental court of assessment of fines shall be
composed of the Major as President — the Adjutant as Secretary —
and the Captains of companies as members ; and the court of ap-
peals shall be composed of the Colonel as President — the Adjutant
as Secretary — and the Lieutenant-Colonel and Major as members,
— the court of assessment shall sit on the Saturday succeeding each
general parade, and the court of appeals on the second Saturday
Uiereafler, at such places as the Colonel may direct.

** Sec. 6. The regular court and law days of the court martial of
the Legion, constituting the law-making department pf the corpo-

214 History of the saints.

ration, shall be the 1st Friday of March, June, September, and De-
cember, and such other days as may be appointed by the joint gen-
eral orders of the Lieutenant-General and the Major- General, with-
in the city of Nauvoo, on a notice of ten days.

" Sec. 7. The staff of the Lieutenant-General shall consist of an
Ipspector- General with the rank of Major- General, a Drill officer,
a Judge- Advocate, and four Aids-de-Camp, with the rank of Colo-
nels; and a guard of twelve Aids-de-Camp, and a Herald and
Armor- Bearer, with the rank of Captain.

" Sec. 8. The staff of the Major- Greneral shall consist of an Ad-
jutant-General, a Surgeon- General, a Comet, a Quarter-Master-
General, a Commissary-General, a Pay-Master- General, a Chaplain,
two Assistant Inspectors- General, four Aids-de-Camp, and a War
Secretary, with the rank of Colonel; a Quarter-Master, Sergeant,
Sergeant-Major, >and Chief Musician, with the rank of Major ; and
four Musicians, and a Herald and Armor-Bearer, with the rank of
Captain. .

" Sec. 9. The staff of each Brigadier-General shall consist of two
Aids-de-Camp, an Assistant Quarter-Master- General, an Assistant
Commissary-General, and a Surgeon, with the rank of Lieutenant-
Colonel ; six Assistant Chaplains, with the rank of Major ; and a
Herald and Armor- Bearer, with the rank of Captain.

" Sec. 10. The staff of each Colonel shall consist of an Adjutant,
a Quarter-Master- Sergeant, and a Sergeant-Major, with the rank of
Captain.

" Sec. 11. Each Refifiment shall be officered with a Colonel, a
Lieutenant-Colonel, alMLnjor, and company officers.

" Sec. 12. Each Company shall be officered with a Captain, three
Lieutenants, five Sergeants, one Pioneer, and four Corporals.

" Sec. 13. The Lieutenant-General, and the Major- General, may
by their joipt act grant brevet commissions to such persons as may
merit appointment and promotion at their hands.

**^ Sec. 14. That all laws, and parts of laws, inconsistent with this
ordinance, be and they hereby are repealed.

» Passed March I'ith, 1842.

" Joseph Smith,
" Lieutenant' General f and President of the Court Martial.

" John C. Bennett,
** Major- General, and Secretary of the Court Martial"

Times and Seasons^ Vol. III., No. 10, pp. 733, 734.

THE CALL.

The Sangamo Journal, of July 1, 1842, says that the
recent acts of the Prophet and the position of the Mor-
mons have attracted

(* — — pobiic attention to the movements of Joe Smith, —

THE CALL* 215

to the tjnranny ezercifled by him oyer his followers, — to the moral
principles by which be is governed ; and it is now not likely that he
will much longer deceive the mass of the people, however much be
may deceive those who have surrendered all their interests — spirit-
ual and temportii — into his hands.

" There are individuals in his flock, possessed of talents and dis-
position to use them for the benefit of their sect and the country.'
Among these individuals we reckon General Bennett, Sidney Rigdon,
Esq., Mr. Greor^ Robinson, and others. But the Prophet will
scarcely permit them to think or act, except in entire subservience
to his wishes. It is now understood that, within a few days past,
Smith has made a desperate, blackguard, and abusive public attack
on General Bennett, Mr. Rigdon, and Mr. Robinson ; and reports —
and we place great reliance upon them — go so far as to say that the
life of the former has been threatened, and that orders have been
issued to the Danite Band to murder him in a clandestine manner on
the first opportunity. Indeed, the report goes further, and states that
two of the Danites have been in hot pursuit of General Bennett for sev-
eral days, in order to accomplish the nefarious purpose, and thus pre-
vent a public exposition of the corruptions of the great Impostor.
. ** We call upon the people of our State to have an eye upon this
matter, and, if either of the individuals mentioned should be miss-
inj^, that there shall be no hesitation in placing the responsibility
ol the act upon its proper authors, and in making them feel in their
own persons that murder shall be avenged.

** We take no pleasure in placing these remarks upon paper. If a
secret band of assassins shall prowl about among this community,
who is safe ? The fate of Governor Bogss is an event not to be un-
heeded. But we should be unworthy oi our position, should we fail
to meet this matter as it deserves. And we now call upon General
Bennett, if the rumors we have stated have just foundation, * to take
his life into his hands,' if that be required, and, with the true spirit
of a soldier and a patriot, expose the crimes, if such exist, of the
Heaven-daring Impostor. We call upon General Bennett to come
out NOW. We appeal to him to do this in behalf of his fellow-citizens,
who claim this of him, by all the considerations which can be pre-
sented to him as a lover of his species and as the servant of his God.
Such an exposure may save life — may expose corruption — may
avert consequences which no man can contemplate without fearful
apprehensions. We call upon General Bennett to produce docu-
mentary evidence, that the public may form opinions that cannot be
gainsiid — that they may understand the entire character, as it stands
naked before his God, of a long successful religious Impostor.

" Among the subjects which we call upon General Bennett, Messrs.
S. Rigdon, G. W. Robinson, and others, to notice, arc the rumors
that Joe Smith, some short time before he applied for the benefits of
the bankrupt law, was in possession of most valuable property —
a part of which he made over to himself as sole trustee for the use of
the Mormon Church, and another part for the use of his wife and
children. The records of Hancock county will show if these things
are so. And if these rumors are true, we call upon Mr. Robinson
to come here with his proof, and let it be placed before the U. S.
Circuit Ck>urt at its first session. We tnurt that there will be no

21S HISTORY (HT THE SAINTS.

<

hesitation in doing this — that there will be no compromise — no
eiforts to injure the innocent, and no pains spared to expose the
guilty.

** Duch is the opinion we hold of General Bennett, that we shall
expect he will respond to the calls made in this article. It appears
to us, under all the circumstances of the case, he will not refuse to
do so. While he will be upon hjs guard against midnight assassi-
nation — while he will regard with contempt tlie * bulls of excom-
munication ' issued against him — he will proceed to make develop-
ments that will astonish the world."

To this Call I have responded, and this Expose contains
the evidence that I have been enabled to procure. The
public can now judge for themselves. I will simply say that
my motives have been impugned, and my conduct animad-
verted upon, by those persons and presses only who are
either in the pay of the Prophet, or profoundly ignorant of
the nature of the Mormon difficulties. The leading pubfic
journals of the country have sustained me, and the cause
of truth, morality, and true religion, against knavery,
corruption, and religious fraud and imposture. The truth
of the disclosures in this Expose does not at all depend
upon my testimony, but upon a concatenation of circum-
stances and events, substantiated by depositions, affidavits,
and statements, of so irresistible a character, as to carry
conviction to the mind of every intelligent, honest indi-
vidual. The truth is as clear as the sun in the firmament
at noonday — whatever may be said to the contrary, by
the Propjiet and his myrmidons in the Holy City, or their
powerful, but mistaken, ally — the able ** Napoleon" Edi-
tor of the Herald, in the eastern metropolis. The public
press has always been, and will always be, divided into
two grand parties — the one contends for golden lore,
and sustains the cause of truth and virtue^ — the other
contends for golden ore, and pleads the cause of false-
hood, corruption y smd fraud: the former embraces the
grand mass of leading journals ; the latter, the sciirrilous,
egotistical, puff-ball sheets, which so oflen infest the com-
munity, and prove a serious annoyance to the moral com-
monwealth. " Truth is mighty, and will prevail," and
the God of all truth will sustain it at the winding-up scene.
Though the earth be dissolved, and the heavens fall, the
truth of the disclosures in this Expose will appear brighter
and brighter, until the great day of final retribution.

Y

THE mobhon bzbabjao.. sit

THE MORMON SERAGLIO.

lYom the LotdspiUe JowmaL

^ General Bennett has written us another letter. How long are
the Ghxl-defyin^ leaders of the Mormons to be allowed to perpetrate
their horrible oatra|;e8 with impunity ?

** To the Editors of the Louisville Journal:

^'Clbyblahd, Ohio, Jidy 30, 1643. '

** I wrote you from Cincinnati, according to promise, and I pre-
sume you are in receipt of that hurried production, which, however,
may not be whuliy uninteresting. This letter will, of necessity, be ,
short and hurried as the former, as all communications written upon
tiie wingy must necessarily be.

^* In the New York Herald, of the 26th inst., the editor says,
' This presents a strani^re and curious state of things for the centre
of the nineteenth century ; and the developments are the most
remarkable we ever heard of. The initiatory proceedings at Joe's
** Order Lodge" resemble those practised by Matthias at Pearson's
house, only his members were females, and they danced round a
stone, whilst Matthias anointed them. But, perhaps, afler all, Joe
-Stiiith has a secret lodge of women ! We shall •ee.* Yes, Joe htis v
a secret lodgp of lyoip pn? and the editor v>Ul see. Joe's iemale v •
lodge (the Mormon inquisition, and seraglio) is the most sinffuiar
thing Af the age. The anointings a la Joe, is a caution to David
Crocket. The investment j the oat/t, the ceremones^ the lectures^ and
the GRAND fiNALE, ate all done up in such a manner, as to place
Matthias in the sfrndej and to cover Ma homet, the Qrientii | prophe t. ^ -^U-bX, Jfc-
in the rubbish of things that were. TEe~TTT5!S^o^meSamU ' ^y /
will give a full account of this nondescript lod ge of the Morm on ^^*^^f^
ladies of pleasure and the fine arts, including alj tneir iJloisVSFBdj
C hamherea^ and uifprian mnu^g f^^f^ w.^i/f««y^ f^

'* The elections will terminate next Monday, and I hope that
Missouri will then demand Joe, and secure him. I will be ready to
make good the charges ; and politicians will then see whether the
Mormon disclosures were made for politicai. effect. Time will de-
velop facts, and show the truth, the undeniable truth f of all the
charges against Smith, as clear as the sun in the firmament at noon-'
day. The Roman pontiff never exerctised the domination oy er the
niinda and propmtjr-o* lUft tJaUiiTflgnhiir^^}^^ as Joe, ine Chief of t he
Mormon hierarch y, ^ftf» »pfT hja subjects — tAe r w^tftf/ ; and tlie
pontifical bull is harmless in comparison witH ine Mormon bull,
(Joe*s letter of marque and reprisal,) as the latter terminates not in
spiritual excommunication and damnation from all M.rmnn gospel
privileges from off the fiice of God's earth, but in murder, cold-
Dlooded, Dnnite murder ! Joe is now making a desperate struggle to
save himself from merited disgrace and condign punishment, by the
forgeries and perjuries of bia Uypriaii girls, cloistered and chambered

19

(

\

\

•v. '■■''

S18"

UtSTOltT OF TBK 8AOITB*

miftreMei, and the Danites. If you will take the trouble to eiamine
all the evidence, you will find that forgery, perjury, thefl, robbery,
burelary, arson, treason, and murder, are very little things in the eyes
of the Mormons, so long as the Holy Joe can, by a * Thus saith the
Lordy pardon inmuity, transgression, and sin ! ! Joe's father, the
devil, was a liar from the beginning, and the world believed him
not; neither will they believe Joe, the son, the ddecUible modern
Prophet of the Latter Day Sinners ; nor the sworn Danites, the grand-
children, though covered with all the habiliments of latter day
glory.

** Joe*s tffords are lies, and the affidavits of his followers and friends,
rATENT LiKs. They swear as they are moved upon by Joe's holv
ghost, and say the things that gold, or interest, or the Prophet s
mandate, dictates ! !

^ In haste, yours, respectfully,

" JoH5 C. Bennett."

The most extraordinary and infamous feature of the
social and religious system established by the Mormon
Prophet, and one in which he closely re sembles his master
a nd, model ^Maho mftt ^ is thft ffftcr^t regulations be ha s

formed for HirftCting th^ rplatinna nf ^hft sp xes. ^

The scenes and practices I am about to reveal, will, I
am aware, be considered almost incredible, when related
as occurring in a civilized and Christian country, and
in the enlightened nineteenth century. Their enormity
would appear marvellous, if they had been transacted in
the most luxurious and corrupt empires of pagan antiquity,
or at any of those licentious Oriental courts, where jje-
bauchery has been, f6r ages, systematized and sanctioned
by law and religion, on the most extensive scale. The
profligacy of Sardanapalus, of Solomon, of Tiberius, of
Heliogabalus, and of the modern Turkish and Moorish
sultans, has been fully equalled by that of an American
citizen in our own day, and one, too, who professes to be
the Prophet of the Lord, and the founder of a new and
more holy religion than any now existing.

Before proceeding to describe the Mormon seraglio, it
may not be amiss to speak of similar institutions on the
eastern continent, from which, undoubtedly, the Holy Joe
first derived the idea of his more extensive and elaborate
system. The earliest one on record, we believe, is that
of King Solomon; formed by him after he had fallen from
bis religion, and become corrupted and enslaved by the
ii|8cinations of the womea of Egypt The Hebrew records

/

^ive us HO other details of his harem, than the mere num-
ber of its inmates.

It is in the histories, howeve;r, of the Oriaital and
African monarchs, both in ancient and modern times, that
we find the most glaring examples of the practice of polyg-
amy and concubinage. We read of Persian, Chinese, and
Moorish sovereigns, who kept thousands of women confined
in the interiors of their palaces, and to whom were bora
hundreds of sons, and uncounted numbers of daughters.
But the most renowued and remarkable potentate, in this
reject, is the African king of Dahomey, who is by law
obliged to maintain no less than thirty-three thousand
three hundred and thirty-three wives ! It is supposed that
jthe stability of the monarchy depends upon this magical
number, which is vigilantly kept complete. In numbers,
f^X least, thi& black patriarch must be acknowledged to
exceed the Holy Joe.

Perhaps, however, the most striking parallel to the
career of the Mormon, in this, and indeed in other par-
ticulars, is that of the Veiled Prophet of Khorassan, the
famous Mokanna, whose defeat and downfall have been
celebrated by Thomas Moore in his Lalla Rookh.

The poet gives the following brilliant description of tbii
impostor's harem : —

** Between the porphyry pillars that uphold
The rich moresque work of the roof of gold,
Alnfl the harem s curtained galleries rise,
Where, through the silken net-work, glancing eyes,
Frr>m time to time, like sudden gleams that glow
Through autumn clouds, shine o'er the pomp below.
What impious tongue, ye blushing saints, would dare
To hint that aught but Heaven hath placed ^ou thpre ?
Or that the loves of this light world could bmd
In their gross chain your Prophet's soaring mind?
No — wrongful thought ! commissioned from above
To people Eden's bowers with shapes of love,
(Creatures so bright, that the same lips and eyes
They wear on earth will serve in paradise,)
There to recline among heaven's native maids,
And crown th' elect with bliss that never fades ! —
Well hath the Prophet-Chief his bidding done ;
And every beauteous race beneath the snn.
From those who kneel at Bramah's burning founts
To the fresh nyjmphs bounding o'er Yemen's mounts ;
From Persia's eyes of full and fawn-like r^y,
To the small, halfnshut glances of Kathay ;

980 KISTOKT or THG SAINTS.

And Geor^ia^s bloom and Azab*B darker smiles^

And the gold ringlets of the western isles ;

All, all are there ; — each land its flower hath given

To form that fair young nursery for heayeu ! "

I will now proceed to describe the seraglio of the mod-
ern Mokanna, the Holy Joseph, who differs as much from
his Hebrew namesake, the youhger son of 7acob, in
chastity as in other virtues.

^'he Mormon fwr ^glin ia vp ry strictly and system atically
o rganized It f^''mti a inrrand lodge, as u were, and^s,
dfvided into three distinct orders, o VHeflrrfies! The first
and lowest oi these is styled the '* CyprimL^lamts ; " the
second, the " Chanibered SjsUxii-^ CharJtt^'' and the
third and highest degree is called the ^* XHoist^ESSf
Saints" or ** Consecratees of th^ Cltdsiet,"

To give a clear idea of the system, it will be necessary
to treat of these in regular order.

THE CYPRIAN SAINTS.

The members of the Female Relief Society, who are
ever upon the watch for victim s, have the power, when
A^ they know, or even suspect, that^ny Mormon female has,
J^ however slightly, lapsed from the straight path of virtue,
^'^ without the sanction or knowledge of the Prophet, of bring-
U ing her at once before the Inquisition. This body is

\ solemnly organized in secret and select council, and by its

members, the poor, terrified female is questioned and threat-
ened, until she confesses the crime she has committed, or
perhaps, in her confusion and terror, accuses herself of
what she was never guilty of. She is immediately, by the
council, pronounced a Cyprian, and is excluded from any
further connection with the Relief Society. She takes
the White VeiL and her name and failing are stealthily pro-
mulgated among the trustworthy members of the Church,
at whose command she is, for licentious purposes, forever

after. M^ny ymmg anH l^fiapfifnl ft>malfta havft thjj ^bgg"
r^iined etprnalTy^ ^ho^ even after a single fault. mig hThave
l|ved_tp rede em^ by repent anceand future good condUfcfT
their names and characters Trom degf adalJ CTlT'andjh eirsouls
from ^ilt and froia lemozse. But the secret counciTOf —

TVS MOmON SBRAOLlQw 1221

the^lnquisition instantly condemns them, on the confession
or proof of their transgression, to perpetual association,
with a class devoted to the most infamous purposes; a
cla ss set apart and appropriated to the gratification of tto
vilest appetites of the brutal ii'riests and Elders of the Mor-
paon Uhurca. W as there ever known, in the history of the
world, a more diabolical system than this? Instead of
interposing the sacred priestly and prophetical character
and influence for the salvation and reformation of an err-
ing sister, to go deliberately to wort, to sink her ir reclaim" *
ably ijit othe pit of crime and misery ! Do not the authors
aiiid abettors oi this horrid, this monstrous system deserve
most richly the execration and prompt vengeance of an out-
raged and indignant community ? Should such miscreants
be longer suffered to pollute, with their contaminating
presence, a Christian and civilized land 1 Humanity and
decency loudly demand their punishment, and the rescue
of their victims, mmy of whom realize the beautiful de-
scription of the poet —

'^ Rich and rare were the gems she wore, "
And a bright gold ring on her wand she bore ;
But, O ! her beauty was far beyond
Her sparkling gems or- snow-white wand."

But even the means used to increase the order of
Cyprian Saints do not exhaust the depraved ingenuity of
the HoIt^ Old White Hat Prophet^ and his confidential
counsellors. Let us examine the second degree of his
female lodge, which is entitled

THE CHA MBERED SISTE RS OF CHARI TY.

This jjrdcr comprises that clas s of females who indulg e
their sensual p ro pensities ^ with'oiit restraint, whether mar-
ried or single, by the express permission of the Prophet.

Whenever one of the "Saints," (as the Mormons style
themselves,^ of the male sex, becomes enamored of a
female, ana she responds to the feeling by a reciprocal
manifestation, the loving brother goes to Holy Joe, and
states the case. It makes, by the bye, no difference what-
ever if one or both the parties are already provided with
conjugal helpmates. The Prophet gravely buries his

19*

S32 HWTORT or THE SATNTS.

face in his hat, in which lies his peep-stone, and inquires
of the Lord what are his will and pleasure in the matter.
Sometimes, when Joe wants the woman for his own pur-
poses, an unfavorable answer is given ; but, generally, the
reply permits the parties to follow the bent of their inclina-
tions, which they do without further ceremony, though
with a strict observance of secrecy, on account of the
Gentiles, who have no right to the blessings and privileges
so liberally granted to the Latter Day Saints.

Thug »Vi#>aA p^r, '^'^l^l^fid fpTpalps- whil e incited by thei

in dulgence

v ery religion (if it deserves that name) to i
in the most degrading passions^ h ave their c(

conscie

\'

. sootHeJ, and their scruples appeased^ fajLl he sanction oL
r 5hft p*'''*^Pd?*^ ApnatTp and PropTiet of the Lord, in" whom
)> they have the utmost confidence, and whose lightest word
\^ is with them a law.

\ ^1^ The result of this system is, that nnt nnfr^g^pgfjy mpn
,«y " J^^ aving wives of thei r own are jivinfr in licentious inter ^
^ - \jf course wit nj)ther n^meprand joTi^ with other

Oiy \ ^len^s^wives ; thus multiplying their adulteries, and pro-
^ ducing'an incalculable amount of domestic discord and
misery. Families are estranged and se parated ^ rhi]drefi
neglected, and all the tender and important relatio ns of
s ociefy^utraged and perverted. ' ~~ ~~

TThe Chambered Sisters of Charity are much more nu-
merous than the Cyprian Saints, This results naturally
from the greater respectability of their order. They are
" Saints of the Green Veil^^ and are by no means nig-
gardly of their favors to any of the faithful. Provided the
Holy Joe does not desire to monopolize any of them, they
are at the service of each and all of the Apostles, High
Priests, and Elders of Israel.

It occurs to me, however, that, when the uninitiated
portion of the Mormon Church discover how their wives
and daughters are used by their rulers, and spiritual guides,
and teachers, there will be some slight disturbance of the
peace in the Holy City of Nauvoo. I cannot think it
probable that Americans, however deluded by an artful
Impostor, will tamely permit those dearest to them to be
prostituted, even to gratify the immaculate Joe himself.

The third and highest order of the Mormon harem is
that which is ttyled

TBB MOSMON SSRAGLIO. S23

THE CONSECRATEES OF THE CLOISTER, OR
CLOISTERED SAINTS.

This degree is composed of females , whether married
or unmarried, who, by an express grant and gift of God,
through his Prophet the Holy Joe, are set apart and con -
s ecrated to the use and benefit of partinniar indivijuS s,
as secret, spiritual mve s. They are the Saints of the hiack
Veil, and are accounted the special favorites of Heaven,
and the most honorable among the daughters of Jacob.
Their apiritnal hiiahan^? are altog fithf ^'•^'" ^^'^ "'""^
em inent members of the Mormon Church , and participate
in^the holiness of their consecrated wives. In the words
of the poet, they can say, not unaptly, —

*^ From the consecrate girl of my soul shall I fly
To seek somewhere else a more orthodox kiss ?
No ! perish the hearts and the laws that would try
Truth, valor, or love, by a standard like this ! "

This is the highest degree in the Harem, and, in the
order of the Prophet's licentious arrangements, is held as
the very acme of perfection, and it is, indeed, the ne plus
ultra of depravity. Its ranks are filled up in the following
manner : When an Apostle, High Priest, Elder, or Scribe,
conceives an affection for a female, and he has satisfactorily
ascertained that she experiences a mutual flame, he com*
municates confidentially to the Prophet his affaire du casur,
and requests him to inquire of the Lord whether or not it
would be right and proper for him to take unto himself the
said woman for. his spiritual wife. It is no obstacle what-
ever to this spiritual marriage if one or both of the parties
should happen to have a husband or wife, already united
to them according to the laws of the land.

The Prophet puts this queer question to the Lord, and,
if he receives an answer in the affirmative, which is
always the case where the parties are in favor with Joe, His
Holiness, either in person or by a duly-authorized admin-
istrator, proceeds to consecrate the sacred sister in the
following solemn manner : —

The parties assemble in the lodge room, and place
themselves kneeling before the altar; the administrator
commences the ceremony- by saying, —

SS4 HIjfTOaT OF THE SAINTS.

*< Tou, separately and jointly, in the nanie of Jesus Christ, the Son
of God, do solemnly covenant and agree that you will not disclose
any ihatter relating to the sacred act now in progress of consumma-
tion, whereb^ any Gentile shall come to a knowledge of the secret
purposes of this order, or whereby the Saints may suffer persecu-
tion ; your lives being the forfeit/

After the bow of assent is given by each of the pair, the
{administrator then proceeds —

*'' In the name of Jesus Christ, and by the authority of the holy
priesthood, I now consecrate yon and set you apart by the imposi-
tion of my hands, as husband and wife, according to the laws of Zion,
and the will of God our heavenly Father ; for which especial favor
you now agree to serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind,
and to obey his Prophet in all things according to his divine will."

Again the nod of assent is given by the man and woman,
and the administrator continues in a solemn and impres-
sive manner —

" I now anoint you with holy, consecrated oil, in the name of Jesus
Christ, and by the authority of the holy j>riesthood, that you may
be fully and unreservedly consecrated to. each other, and to the ser-
vice of God, and that with affection and fidelity you may nourish
and cherish each other, so lon^ as you shall continue faithful and
true in the fellowship of the Samts ; and I now pronounce upon you.
the blessings of Jacob, whom God honored and protected in the en-
joyment of like special favors ', and may the peace of Heaven, which
passeth all understanding, rest upon you in time and in eternity ! '*

The parties then rise and embrace each other, and the
robe of investiture is placed upon and around them by the
administrator, who says, —

'* According to the prototype, I now pronounce you one JUshy in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen."

The robe is then removed, and the parties leave the
cloister, with generally a firm belief, at least on the part
of the female, in the sacredness and validity of the cere*
monial, and thereafter consider themselves as united in
spiritual marriage, the duties and privileges of which are
in no particular different from those of any other marriage
covenant.

** Here we dwell in holiest bowers.

Where angels of liji|rht o'er our orisons bend,
Where sighs of devotion and breathings of flowers
To heaven in mingled odors ascend!
Po not disturb our calm, O Love !
So like is thy form to the chembs «bov»,
It w«ll night deMiT* such httrts at onti."

THS MORMON SERAOLIO; tSB

The above is a faithful and unexaggerated account of
the most enormous and detestable system of depravity
that was ever concocted by the corrupt heart of a human
being. The extensive scale upon which it was carried on,
and the lofty and sacred character pretended to by the
arch villain who contrived and perpetrated it, are equally
remarkable. Is it not astonishing that a man professing
to be the Apostle and Prophet of the Most High and Pure
God, and the founder of a new and holy religion, based, in
some degree, upon the Christian Scriptures, — a man claim-
ing daily and hourly familiar intercourse with the Creator
of heaven and earth, should, despite these high pretensions,
which, however false, ought to have made him endeavor
to act in some degree of accordance with them, — is it not
astonishing, I say, that this man should so deliberately
and shamelessly have gone to work to gratify, in so mon-
strous a manner, his abominable lusts? Will it not here-
after be deemed incredible that hundreds and thousands,
yea, tens of thousands, of Americans and Christians, were,
in the year of our Lord one thousand ei^ht hundred and
forty-two, so miserably, so awfully deceived as to believe
that this monster of iniquity, this brutally sensual wretch,
was the Prophet aiid Vicegerent of God upon earth ?

And will it not be deemed still more incredible, that
chaste and pious women should also be so far deluded by
his arts and impostures, as to sacrifice themselves, body and
soul) to him and to his myrmidons, despite all restraints of
their former religious education, and of that decency, and
modesty which seem inherent qualities of the female soul 1

But there is no absurdity so great that it will . not be
believed, no enormity so monstrous that it will not be
practised, by those who have once yielded up their niinds
to the sway of superstition. The imposture of Joseph
Smith has never had its parallel, if we consider not only
its magnitude and grossness, but the age and the people
when and among whom it was devised and promulgated.

In quitting this subject, I can only say that I have not
told the tenth part of the Prophet's licentiousness. Numer-
ous scenes and incidents could not, of course, be related,
because of their obscene and disgusting nature, and be-
cause they involve the names and future reputation of his
victims.

206 HISTOBT OF THE SAXKTS.

AMOURS, ATTEMPTED SEDUCTIONS, AND

GRIM. CON. CASES.

Under this head I shall arrange two descriptkms of
cases ; — the amours and attempted seductions y as in the
cases of Mrs. Sarah M. Pratt, Mrs. Emeline White, Miss
Martha H. Brotherton, and Miss Nancy Rigdon, where
the Prince of the Seraglio was signally defeated; and the
amours and crim. con, cases^ a^ in the instances of Mrs.
Warren, (late widow Fuller,) Mrs. Miller, and the long
rejtinue of Cyprians, Chambered, and Cloistered Saints,
where the Lord of the Harem glutted his brutal lusts to
the maximum of his sensual desires, in his halcyon days of
prophetic glory.

AMOURS AND ATTEMPTED SEDUCTIONS.
MRS. SARAH 91. PRATT.

This lady is the wife of Orson Pratt, A. M., Professor
of Mathematics in the University of the City of Nauvoo,
and is one of the most elegant, graceful, amiable, and ac-
complished women in the place. Mr. S. Francis, editor
of the Sangamo Journal, in speaking of her, says, ** It
will be recollected that Mrs. Schindle, in her affidavit de-
tailing the attempt of Smith upon her, said, ' He then told
her that she must never tell of his propositions to her, for
he had all influence in that place, and if she told, he
would ruin her character , and she would be under the ne-
cessity of leaving,* This same scheme has been carried
out in reference to Mrs. Pratt. She ' told ' on the Impos-
tor, and was marked by him for destruction. In a public
speech in Nauvoo, on the 14th July, Joe spoke of this
lady — a woman whose reputation had been as fair as vir-
tue could make it until she came in contact with him —
in a manner only befitting the lowest and most degraded
vagabond in existence.' ' Yes, her reputation was unsul-
lied, and her character as pure as the virgin snow; nor
was even the Mormon Don Juan able to blight this bloom-
ing flower. — This noble and lovely woman was marked
out by Joe as a victim. Her husband was sent to £ur(4>e

AMOURS ANS ATTBHPTSD SEDUCTIONS. 227

to amvert the heathen, nnder a solemn promise that his
family shoald be honorably provided for by the Church ;
but, as Mrs. Pratt was a beautiful and charming woman,
Joe's real object was to convert her in another way —
from virtue, unsophisticated virtue, to vice, soul-damuing
vice, — from the path of innocence and peace, to the pol-
luted way of the libertine, — from the pure teachings of
heaven's high King, to the loathsome caresses of the Tfeast
iind the false prophet ; but the fowler's snare was broken,
and the intended victim saved. Mrs. Pratt is a highly-
educated lady, and had always been used to living well ;
but ho sooner had her husband crossed the ocean, than
Joe ordered the Bishops to restrict her in he): allowance, '
and reduce her to a state of absolute want and suffering, in
order to make her a more easy prey. The mandate was
obeyed, and, in drear winter, without fuel or food, she
found herself in a miserable hovel, with her darling child,
exposed to storm and tempest, and dependent upon the
tender mercies of a cold and unfeeling fraternity to sup-
ply her actual wants! ! ! The sufferings and privations
through which she passed are indescribable ; the blackest
fiends of hell would shudder at the thought of such inhu-
man treatment ; but, alas ! she drank the bitter cup, and
sipped the dregs. A public contribution was then taken
up for her, and pocketed hy the Bishop ; but ihe venerable
prelate, Vinson Knight, was willing to see her provided
for on one condition, and that was, the sacrifice of virtue!
But she spurned his proffered mercies, and doffed the
mitre from his reverend brow. Joe Smith and Vinson
Knight — parfratrum nobile! Emma, the Electa Syria
of the Church, and wife of the Holy Joe, the male Cas-
sandra of the Mormon Hierarchy, (who was very envious
of Mrs. Pratt's superior intellectual endowments,) advised
her to hire out as a servant to some Mormon nabob ; but
that base attempt at human degradation of one in every
way superior to herself, became abortive; and Mrs. Pratt
turned from the delectable Emma, the Lady Abbess of the
Seraglio, or " Mother of the Maids," as Lord Byron calls
it, with loathing and ineffable contempt. Mrs. Pratt,
however, by the assistance of a few humane individuals,
and her persevering industry, was enabled to support her-

228 HISTOHY OF THE SAINTS.

self and little boy, until the return of her husband from a
two years? mission, which was greeted with acclamations
of joy. The cup of sorrow was broken, and she rejoiced
once more in the society of a protector, a husband, and a
friend. But she had a dreadful tale to tell.

Joe Smith told me, confidentially, during the absence
of her husband, that he intended to make Mrs. Pratt
one of his spiritual wives, one of the Cloistered Saints,
for the Lord had given her to him as a special favor
for his faithfulness and zeal ; and, as I had influence with
her, he desired me to assist him in the consummation of
his hellish purposes; but I refused compliance, and told
him that she had been much neglected and abused by the
Church, in order to cloister her, so far without success,
and that, if the Lord had given her to him, he must attend
to it himself, for I should never offer her an indignity.
" Well," said he, " I shall approach her, for there is no
harm in it if she submits to be cloistered, and if her hus-
band should never find it out ; and if she should expose
me, as she did Bishop Knight, I will blast her character;
so there is no material risk for so desirable a person." I
then called upon Mrs. Pratt, and apprized her of Joe's
contemplated attack on her virtue, in the name of the
Lord, and that she must prepare to repulse him, in so
infamous an assault, by opposing revelation to revelation.
She replied, "Joseph cannot be such a man; I cannot
believe it until I know it for myself, or have it from his
own lips ; he cannot be so corrupt." I told her that she
would see, unless he changed his mind, for he was an un-
principled libertine, unequalled in the history of civilized
man. Accordingly, in a few days, Joe proposed to me a
visit to Ramus, which I accepted, and we started from his
house, in an open carriage, about 4 o'clock, P. M., rode
into the prairie a few miles, and returned to the house of
Captain John T. Barnett, in Nauvoo, about dusk, where
we put up the horse, with Barnett's permission. Joe pre-
tended we were looking for thieves. After perambulating
for an hour or two, we proceeded to the residence of Mrs.
Pratt, and found her at home, and alone, with the excep-
tion of her little boy, who was then asleep in bed. We
were hospitably received, and our situation rendered as

AMOURS AND ATTEMPTED SEDUCTIONS. 229

comfortable and agreeable a? tbe tenement would admit
of. After considerable desultory conversation, Joe asked
her if she would keep a secret for him ; to which she as-
sented. ** Do you pledge me your honor," said he, ** that
you will never tell without my permission ? " She replied
in the affirmative. He then continued, ** Sister Pratt, the
Lord has given you to me as one of my spiritual wives% I
have the blessings of Jacob granted me, as God granted
holy men of old ; and as I have long looked upon you
with favor, and an earnest desire of connubial bliss, I hope
you will not repulse or deny me." She replied, ** And is
that the great secret that I am not to utter ? Am I called
upon to break the marriage covenant, and prove recreant
to ray lawful husband ? / never will. My sex shall not
be disgraced, nor my honor sullied. I care not for the
blessmgs of Jacob, and 1 believe in no such revelations,
neither will I consent, under any circumstances whatever.
I have one good husband, and that is enough for me."
He then went off to see Miss Louisa Beeman, at the
house of Mrs. Sherman, and remained with her about two
Hours, when we returned to Barnett's, harnessed our
horse, started for Ramus, arrived at Carthage early in the
morning, and took breakfast at Mr. Hamilton's. We
then went to Ramus, transacted some business in relation
to real estate, returned to Carthage that night, and put up
at the house of Esquire Comer. Next day, we returned
to Nauvoo. I then called upon Mrs. Pratt, and asked her
if her opinion of Joseph, the Prophet, was the same as
heretofore. She replied, " No ; he is a bad man, beyond
a doubt — * wicked, sensual, devilish;' but it will not do
for me to express myself openly, or my life might atone
for it. It becomes me to move in this matter with much
circumspection ; I must be as * wise as a serpent, and
harmless as a dove ; * for I see plainly that Joseph is de-
termined to transgress the laws, change the ordinance,
and break the everlasting covenant of our heavenly Father,
and to set at open defiance every principle of true godliness
and moral rectitude. I exceedingly fear and tremble for
the weak and uneducated of my sex; for an unprincipled
libertine, sensualist, and debauchee, of such unbounded
prophetic influence, in a commuQitv like this, may utterly

20

230 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS*

ruin hundreds of pious, unsuspecting females, under the
potent dictum of a ' Thus saith th£ Lord ; ' and all the
proof they would require would be his simple ipse dixit,
O, WHAT TOTAL DEPRAVITY ! ! What ignorauce and im-
pudence in a laud of Bibles, where Christians ought to
dwell, and worship the Great Ruler of the Universe in the
bea[ity of holiness ! Surely God will not suffer it long !
I remember well when you told me of his desiring you to
procure the engraving of new plates of the Book of Mor-
mon, for the further and more perfect blinding of the
peopj^^ — of his gross wickedness and perfidy — of his
fraud and corruption — of his spiritual wickedness in high
places, and his secret abominations, — and so forth ^ but I
could never realize it before. I had a better opinion of
human nature; but, alas I I was deceived. The scales,
however, have fallen from my eyes, and 'whereas I
was once blind, now I see.' I am in great trouble on
another account. My husband is a good and pious man,
and a true believer in Mormonism^ devotedly attached to
Joseph as the spiritual leader of the Church. He believes
him to be a pure man, and a Prophet of the Lord. Now»
if I should tell him the true story of my sufferings, priva-
tions, and insults, and Joseph should circumvent or meet
it with his infallible rebuff oi a * Verily,, thus saith the
Lord,' I fear that Orson would believe him in preference
to me, unless his faith can be shaken. How shall I extri-
cate myself from this fearful dilemma 1 As a confidential
friend, I look to you for advice and protection, until the
return of Mr. Pratt." *' Be quiet," said I, " Sarah, under
these circumstances, until some event transpires by which
Orson can have ocular and auricular demonstration of the
palpable imposture of the whole scheme of Mormonism,
and of the infidelity and brutality of the Mormon Mountc"
bank, that Sui Generis Prophet^ who was constituted per
se, and not by the appointment of Almighty God ; and
such an event must soon be consummated, unless there
should be a manifest change in the Mormon Adminis-
tration."-

Joe afterwards tried to convince Mrs. Pratt of the pro-
priety of his spiritual wife doctrine, and she at last told j
him peremptorily, " Joseph, if you ever attempt any thing

AMOURS AND ATTEMPTED SEDUCTIONS. S31

•

of the kind with me agaiiy, I will make a fall disclosure to
Mr. Pratt on his return home. Depend upon it, / will
certainly' do it*^ Joe replied, ** Sister Pratt, I hope you
will not expose me, for if I suffer, all must suffer; so do
not expose me. Will you promise me that you will not do
it?" " If," said she, " you will never insult me again, I
will not expose you, unless strong circumstances should
require it." ** If you should tell," said he, ** I will ruin
your reputation ; remember that ; and as you have repulsed
me, it becomes sin, unless sacrijice is offered." He then
desired that a lamb should be procured and slain, and the
door-posts and the gate sprinkled with its blood, and the
kidneys and entrails taken and offered upon an altar of
twelve stones that had not been touched with a hammer,
as a burnt sin-offering, for the purpose of saving him and
his priesthood. His desire was complied with, and the
lamb procured from Captain Barnett, and slain by Lieu-
tenant Stephen H. Goddard ; and the kidneys and entrails
were offered in sacrifice, as Joe desired ; and he observed,
" All is now safe ; the Destroying Angel will pass over
without harming any of us." About this time, Mrs. Pratt,
in a conversation with Mrs. Goddard, observed, ** Sister
Goddard, Joseph is a corrupt man ; I know it, for he made
an attempt upon me, in the name of the Lord, 1 now
detest the mtm," Time passed on without further moles-
tation, until one day, after Mr. Pratt's return from Europe,
Joe called at her new house, and, looking at Mrs. Pratt,
thought, —

"And, O ! how often in these eyes.
Which melting beamed like azure skies

In dewy vernal weather —
How often have I raptured read
The burning glance, that silent said.

Now, love, we fed together^" —

and grossly insulted her again, by stealthily approaching
and kissing her. This highly offended her, and she told her
husband. Colonel Orson Pratt, who was highly incensed,
and gave Joe a severe rebuke. Joe observed, '* I did
not desire to kiss her ; Bennett made me do it T* Joe
couldn't come the " extreme unction" .over that intelligent
lady ; she was far above his polluted breath, his ribaldry,

233 HI$TORT ^Or THB SAINTS.

low vituperation, calumny, and detraction. He lied to her
in the name of IsraeVs God. Let the base blasphemer
remember that, and weep 1 Let him look at his black cat^
alogue of crimes — his seductions and attempted seduc-
tions, in the name of the Lord — his thefts — his robberies
— and his murders ! Why, Satan blushes to behold so
corrupt and loathsome a mortal, — one whose daring deeds
of crime so far surpass hell's darkest counsels, as to hide
the sable Prince in impenetrable darkness forever ! If Joe
Smith is not destined for the Devils all I can say is, that
the duties of a devil have not been clearly understood.

** I've had a dream that bodes no good
Unto the Holy Brotherhood.
I can't be wrong, and I confess —

As fiur as it is right or lawful
For one, no conjurer, to guess —

It seems to me extremely awful.'*

Joe lied to Colonel Pratt afterwards, in the name op
THE Lord. This shook his faith, and he told the Prophet
to his face that he was a liar, an infamous liar; and
his noble voice has since been heard thundering against that
Uncircumcised Philistine, the fell Monster of Iniquity, and
that at the very portals of the Temple. Deploy column.
Colonel Pratt, and let your heavy ordnance and battering-
rams ply upon the ramparts of General Joe's imperial
fortifications ! Demolish the ba^ftions and curtains of his
fortresses ! Open your artillery upon his concealed recesses,
and storm his strong-holds ! Let loose the dogs of war upon
his gathering hosts of Tartarean fugitives and refugees, and
secure to yourself an imperishable reputation as a mbral
victor, and a servant of your God ; and Mormonism will
soon be numbered with the things that were, the glory of
which is^ow in the sear and yellow leaf.

£Vom Mrs. Emdmt WMU.

** Nautoo, .A^fiut 3, 1819.
•••Geiikrat, John C. Bennett:
** Respected friend, —

**Tour friends are anxiously awaiting your return to the west.
If it is possible, be here by the 1st of oeptember. You can avert

AMOURS AND ATTEMPTED SEDUCTIONS. 233

a great calamity, and add greatly to the amount of human hap-
piness by so doing. I dare not write you to what I allude, but
would gladly tell you. I called on Mrs. Pratt this morning, in order
to learn where to address you; and she and Mr. Pratt dined at
father's to-day. We had a long talk with them about the troubled
waters, the present attitude in which they are placed, and the ulti-
mate issue or final result of the expos6. 1 was much^ pleased to see
tliem so happy, and firm in the advocacy of truth. Mr. Pratt has
publicly defended her, from the stand, against the foul aspersions
attempted to be cast upon her irreproachable reputation by her in-
terested persecutors. She is certainly one of the best of women,
above reproach, of noble bearing, and great moral excellence ; and
Mr. Pratt will ever sustain her in exposing corruption and fraud.
They request me to say to you that you must excuse them for not
writing, as their time has hitherto been so completely engrossed.
They are your unwavering friends, and cannot be driven from the
truth by your enemies. Some here have dealt very treacherously
with you, and they shall reap their reward hereafler ; the curses of
Heaven will fall upon their heads, for God will protect you in a virtu-
ous cause. May all your Undertakings prosper, and ma^ God bless,
and guardian angels watch over and nover around you, in this your
time of danger and peril ! Your friends here are firm as the adaman-
tine rocks, and will ever sustain you in defending virtue and expos-
ing vic^. Father and mother join me in their respects to you.
Please to write circumstantially at your earliest convenience

" Respectfully, yours,

^^Eheline White."

The following affidavit of Messrs. Carter, Whiti;ig, and
Leland, though unexpected by me, is quite opportune : —

" Boston, September 17, 1842.
" To THE PuBHC :

" Without solicitation or the previous knowledge of any one,
we would respectfully state that we have seen letters from four
individuals, residing in and near Nauvoo, addressed to and received
by different gentlemen in the States of New York and Massachu-
setts, through the post-office department, tending fully and unequiv-
ocally to confirm the truth of the disclosures of General Bennett, in
relation to Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet, and his followers,
especially so far as regards the Seraglio and Order Lodge, and the
cases of Mrs. Sarah M. Pratt, Miss Nancy Rigdon, and Mrs. £me-
line White. The writers of these letters are persons of great respect-
ability, holding high official stations. They request that their names
shall not be made public, for fear of secret murder by the Mormon
Destroying Angel, or the Daughter of Zion.

" Robert Carter, -

" WiLLARD J. WhITINC,

*^ Emerson Lelavd."

30»

S34 BISTORT OF THi; SAINTS.

" Surrouc, u. 8^[it$mher 17, 1643.

**Then personally appeared the above-named Robert Carter,
Willard J. Whitine, and Emerson Leland, and made oath that the
above affidavit, by Siem subscribed, is true.

** Before me, Bradford Sumner,

*' Justice of the Peace.**

The Sangamo Journal^ of July 22, 1842, in commenting
on the Prophet's amours and secret abominations, says, —

*' In this community, we verily believe that there is not a man,
disconnecled with the Mormons, who does not place implicit confi-
dence in the disclosures of General Bennett. These disclosures
show that the rulers of this Mormon confederacy are steeped in pol-
lutions of the blackest dye — pollutions and crimes violatory of all
laws, human and divine — and for which we can hardly find a parallel,
without going back to the ingulfed * cities of the plain.' *'

It will be seen that the affidavit of Messrs. Carter,
Whiting, and Leland, unequivocally sustains various oth^r
matters disclosed in this Expose ; and the whole testi-
mony places Mrs. Pratt high on the vantage-ground, and
far above reproach. Thus, by the assistance of a most pow-
erful intellect, and the great God, has this noble lady signally
triumphed over her insidiously persecuting enemies, and
placed her foot upon the neck of the Monster of Iniquity,
the Beast and the False Prophet ; and her noble husband,
too, has done himself immortal honor in battering down
the bulwarks of prophetic security, behind which the Mor*
mon Pontiff screened himself from merited infamy and dis-
grace. The course of the Prophet has been very singular
in its inception, its prosecution, and its termination.

MRS. EMELINE WHITE.

Mrs. White is po Mormon. Her father, General Davi-
son Hi bard, resided at Nauvoo before the Mormons located
themselves there. She is, however, what is much better,
one of the most beautiful and accomplished women in the
Holy City. Her form is noble, yet exquisitely propor-
tioned ; her features regular, and glowing with a thousand
charms, not the least attractive of which is the amiable
gRyety that beams from every line of her countenance.
She possesses fine musical talent, and realizes, in every
way, the description of the^lpoit*-*-

AMOURS AND ATTEMPTED SEDl^GTIONS. 235

" She sung of love — while o'er her lyre

The rosy rays of evening fell,
As if to feed with their soft fire

The soul within that trembling shell.
The same rich light hung o'er her cheek,

And played around those lips that sung
And spoke as flowers would sing and speak,

If love could lend their leaves a tongue."

The fine intellect and superior intelligence of this lovely
woman secured her effectually from falling into the Mor-
mon delusion. She rejected, with decision and contempt,
their base and absurd belief; and, so far as I am aware,
rose triumphant above the libertine arts and temptations
of the Prophet himself, though those arts and those tempta-
tions were put forth with all his strength.

The following letter was addressed to her by Joe, who
was, when he wrote it, in Springfield, Illinois : —

"My Sweet Emeline:

"You know that my love for you, as David said to
Jonathan, is * wonderful, passing the love of women.' And how
can that be ? You know it is only figurative. I mean you have my
most supreme affections. O that I had yours as truly ! May I not
hope that it will be so? At all events, be my friend, my best friend.
If you want any thing while I am gone, call upon either of the
Bishops, — Vinson Knight or Alanson Ripley, — and show them the
signature of* Old White Hat,' and they will provide for you. Do
not be afraid to receive any thing from me, and these men are ron*
fidenttal. You need not fear to write me ; and I do assure you that
a few lines would be very consoling on a journey. Sign it * Ro-
sanna.' " Your humble servant,

"Old White Hat."

This letter had no other effect upon this virtuous lady,
than to excite her scorn and indignation. She saw through
the Monster and his detestable doctrines, and could not
be persuaded, by any offers, to participate in his vileness.

I am informed by General Robinson and Colonel Hig-
bee, that the brother of Dr. John F. Weld has in his pos-
session two other letters from this Old White Hat Prophet
to Mrs. White, which are said to be exceedingly rich
specimens of rigmarole, abounding in the warmest protes-
tations of love, interlarded with quotations from Scripture.

The Mormon Don Juan failed again in the application
of the '^extreme unction" and virtue once more triumphed
over the insidious arts and machinations of a malevolent

236 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

caliph. The unbounded courage and inflexible moral purity
of purpose of this beautiful lady, combined with a vigorous
intellect, enabled her to hold the tyrant at bay, even in the
Holy City of the Saints, until she could effectually present
the shield and rapier. This she did, and vanquished. No-
ble woman ! may the escutcheon of her honor ever remain
as spotless as the album of Diana, and the God of virtue
will be her Protector and her Friend.

MISS MARTHA H. BROTHERTON.

Miss Brotherton is a very good-looking, amiable, and
accomplished English lady, of highly respectable parent-
age, cultivated intellect, and spotless moral character.
She was selected as one of the victims for the Cloister^ in
order to be consecrated to apostolic brutality. The Right
Reverend Brigham Young, the President of the Mormon
College of Apostles, {Collegium de Propaganda Fide,) it
is well known regarded her with an evil eye, and she was
also eagerly sought afler by the Holy Prophet Joe, and by
Apostle Heber C. Kimball. Gods 1 what a triumvirate !
and united, too, for such a sanctified purpose ! These
celestial gladiators, armed with the " sword of the Spirit,"
leaguing themselves in a Holy Alliance for the destruction
of a defenceless and innocent woman, and urging on their
work of sin and pollution with the most fiendish zeal and
malignity ! '* Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the
streets of Askelon." These three Mormon demigods,
these Prophets and Apostles, were completely foiled in their
hopeful scheme, and utterly defeated by the determined
resistance of their intended victim, as will be seen by the
following graphic letter from her own pen : —

" St. Louis, Misaouri, Jviy 13, A. D. 1843.

" General John C. Bennett :

«* Dear Sir,—

** I lefl Warsaw a short time since for this city, and having
been called upon by you, through the * San^mo Journal,' to codi6
out and disclose to the world the facts of the case in relation to
certain propositions made to me at Nauvoo, by some of the Mormon
leaders, I now proceed to respond to the call, and discharge what I
consider to be a duty devolving upon me as an innocent, but insulted
and abuied femalo. I had been at Nauvoo near three weeks, during

"" AMOURS AND ATTEMPTED SEDUCTIONS. 237

which time my father's family received frequent visits from Elders
Bri^ham Youn? and Heber C. Kimball, two of the Mormon Apos-
tles ; when, early one morning, they botn came to my brother-m-law's
(Jolin McUwrtck's) house, at which place I then was on a visit, and
paxticulariy requested me to go and spend a few days with them. I
told them I could not at that time, as my brother-in-law was not at
home ; however, they urged me to go the next day, and spend one
day with them. The day being fine, I accordingly went. Wnen I
arrived at the foot of the hill. Young and Kimball were standing
conversing together. They both caiue to me, and, ailer sever«u
flattering compliments, Kimball wished me to go to his house first.
I said it was immaterial to me, and accordingly went. We had not,
however, gone many steps when Young suodenly stopped, and said
he would go to that brother's, (pointing to a little log hut a few *
yards distant,) and tell him that yeu (speaking to Kimball) and
brother Glover, or Grover, (I do not remember which,) will value
his land. When he had gone, Kimball turned to me and said,
* Martha, I want yqu to say to my wife, when you so to my house,
that you want to buy some things at Joseph's store, (Joseph smith's,)
and I will say I am goinff with you, to show you the way. You
know you want to see me Prophet, and you will then have an
opportunity.' I made no reply. Young again made his appearance,
and the subject was dropped. We soon reached Kimball's house,
where Young took his leave, saying, *■ I shall see you again, Martha.'
I remained at Kimball's near an hour, when Kimball, seeing that 1
would not tell the lies he wished me to, told them to his wife him-
■elf. He then went and whispered in her ear, and asked if that
would please her. *• Yes,' said she, *• or I can go along with you and
Martha.' * No,' said he, *• I have some business to do, and I will
call for you afterwards to go with me to the debate,' meaning the
debate between yourself and Joseph. To this she consented. So
Kimball and I went to the store together. As we were going along,
he said, * Sister Martha, are you willing to do all that the rrophet
requires you to do ? ' I said 1 believed I was, thinking of course h$
would require nothing wrong. * Then,' said he, * are you ready to
take counsel ? ' I answered in the affirmative, thinking of the great
and glorious blessings that had been pronounced upon my head, if I
adhered to the coun^l of those placed over me in tne Lord. ^ Well,'
said he, '• there are many things revealed in these last days that the
world would laugh and scon at ; but unto us is given to know the
mysteries of the' kingdom.' He further observed, * Martha, you must
learn to hold your tongue, and it will be well with you. You will
see Joseph, and very likely have some conversation with him, and
he will tell you what you shall do.* When we reached the building,
he led me up some stairs to a small room, the door of which was
locked, and on it the following inscription : * Positively no admit-
tance.' He observed, ' Ah ! brother Joseph must be sick, for,
strange to say, he is not here. Come down into the ti thing-office,
Martha.' He then left me in the tithing-office, and went out, I
know not where. In this office were two men writing, one of
whom, William Clayton, I had seen in £nffland ; the oUier I did
not know. Young came in, ajid seated himself before me, and asked

238 HISTORY OP THE SAINTS. ^

where Kimball was. I said he had gone put. He said it was all
right. Soon after, Joseph came in, and spoke to one of the clerks,
and then went up stairs, followed by Young. Immediately after,
Kimball came in. * Now, Martha,' said he, * the Prophet has come ;
come up stairs.' I went, and we found Young and the Prophet
alone. 1 was introduced to the Prophet by Young. Joseph offered
me his seat, and, to my astonishment, the moment I was seated, Jo-
seph and Kimball walked out of the room, and left me with Young,
who arose, locked the door, closed the window, and drew the cur-
tain. He then came and sat before me, and said, * This is our private
room, Martha.' * Indeed, sir,' said I, ' I must be highly honored to
be permitted to enter it.' He smiled, and then proceeded — * Sister
Martha, I want to ask you a few questions j will you answer them ? *

* Yes, sir,' said I. ' And will you promise not to mention them to
any one .'" * If it is your desire, sir,' said I, * I will not.' * And you
will not think any the worse of me for it, will you, Martha ? ' said
he. * No, sir,' I replied. ' Well,' said he, * what are your feelinffs
towards me .^ ' I replied, * My feelings are just the same towards
you that they ever were, sir.' * But, to come to the point more
closely,' said he, * have not you an affection for me, that, were it
lawful and right, vou could accept of me for your husband and
companion .'* * My feelings at that moment were indescribable. God
only knows them. What, thought I, are these men, that I thought
almost perfection itself, deceivers ? and is all my fancied happiness
but a dream ? 'Twas even so ; but my next thought was, which is
the best way for me to act at this time .'' If I say wo, they may do as
they think proper ; and to say yes, I never would. So I considered
it best to ask for time to think and pray about it. I therefore said,

* If it was lawful and right, perhaps i might ; but you know, sir, it
is not,' * Well, but,' said he, ' brother Joseph has had a revelation
from ^Grod that it is lawful and riffht for a man to have two wives ;
for, as it was in the days of Abraham, so it shall be in these last
days, and whoever is the first that is willing to take up the cross
will receive the greatest blessings ; and if you will accept of me, I
will take you straight to the celestial kingdom ; and if you will
have me in this world, I will have you in that which is to come',
and brother Joseph will marry us here to-day, and you can go home
this evening, and your parents will not know any thing about it.*
*• Sir,' said I, * I should hot like to do any thing of tiie kind witliout
the permission of my parents.' * Well, but,' said he, *you are of
age, are you not .?' * No, sir,' said I, * I shall not be until the 24th
of May.' * Well,' said he, * that does not make any difference. You
will be of age before they know, and you need not fear. If you will
take my counsel, it will be well with you, for 1 know it to be right
before God, and if there is any sin in it, I will answer for it. But
brother Joseph wishes to havesQme talk with you on the subject —
he will explain things — will you hear him ?* * I do not mind,' said 1.

* Well, but I want you to say something,' said he. ' I want time to
think about it,' said I. * Well,' said he, * I will have a kiss, any how,*
and then rose, and said he would brin? Joseph. He then unlocked
the door, and took the key, and locked me up alone. He was absent
about ten minutes, and then returned with Joseph. *■ Well ,' said Young,

i

AMOURS AND ATT£1IPTED SEDUCTIONS. 239

* sister Martha would be willing if she knew it was lawful and right
before God.' * WeU, JV^artha/ said Joseph, * it is lawful and right
before Grod — I know it is. Look here, sis j don't you believe in
me.'*' I did not answer. * Well, Martha,' said Joseph, *just go
ahead, and do as Brighaoi wants you to — he is the best man in the
world, except me.' * O ! ' said Brigham, * then you are as good.'

* Yes,' said Joseph. * Well,' said Young, * we believe Joscpli to be a
Prophet. I have known him near eight years, and always found
him the same. * Yes,' said Joseph, * and I know that this is lawful
and right before God, and if there is any sin in it, I will answer for
it before God; and I have the keys of the kingdom, and whatever !<
bind on earth is bound in heaven, and whatever I loose on earth is
loosed in heaven , and if you will accept of Bri^ham, you shall be
blessed — God shall bless you, and my blessing shall rest upon you ;
and if you will be led by him, you will do well; for I know Brigham
will take care of you, and if he don't do his duty to you, come to me,
and 1 will jiiake him ; and if you do not like it in a month or two,
come to me, and I will make you free again ; and if he turns you otf,
I will take you on.' * Sir,' said I, rather warmly, ' it will be too
late to think in a month or two after. 1 want time to think first.'

* Well, but,' said he, *the old proverb is, " Nothing ventured, noth-
ing gained; " and it would be the greatest blessing that was ever
bestowed upon you.' ' Yes,' said Young, ' and you will never have
reason to repent it — that is, if I do not turn from righteousness,
and that I trust I never shall ; for I believe God, who has kept me so
long, will continue to keep me faithful. Did you ever see me act in
any way wrong in England, Martha ? ' * No, sir,' said I. * No,' said
he ; ' neither can any one else lay any thing to my charge.' * Well,
then,' said Joseph, ' what are you afraid of, sis ^ Come, let me do
the business for you.' * Sir,' said I, ^ do let me have a little time to
think about it, and I will promise not to mention it to any one.'

* Well, but look here,' said he ; * you know a fellow v/ill never be
damned for doing the best he knows how.' ' Well, then,' said I,
' the best way I know of, is to go home and think and pray about it.'
' Well,' said Young, ' I shall leave it with brother Joseph, whether
it would be best for you to have time or not.' ' Well,' said Joseph,
^ I see no harm in her having time to think, if she will not fall into
temptation.' ' O, sir,' said I, * there is no fear of my falling into
temptation.' * Well, but,' said Brigham, * you must promise me you
will never mention it to any one.' * I do promise it,' said I. * Well,'
said Joseph, 'you must promise me the same.' I promised him the
same. ' Upon your honor,' said he, ' you will not tell * No, sir, I
will lose my life first,' sajd I. * Well, that will do,' saia he ; ' that is
the principle we so upon. I think I can trust you, Martha,' said
he. * Yes,' said I, ' 1 think you ought.' Joseph said, * She looks as
if she could keep a secret.' I then rose to go, when Joseph com-
menced to beg of me again. He said it was tlie best opportunity
they might have for months, for the room was often engaged. 1,
however, had determined what to ^o. ' Well,' said Young, * 1 will
see you to-morrow. I am going to preach at the school-house, oppo-
site your house. I have never preached there yet; you will be
there, I suppose.' ^ Yes,* said I. — The next day being Sunday, 1

240 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

■at down, instead of going to meeting, and wrote the conversation,
and gave it to my sister, who was not a little surprised ; bat she said
it would i>e best to go to meeting in the afternoon. We went, and
Young administered the sacrament. After it was over, I was pass-
ing out, and Toung stopped me, saying, ^ Wait, Martha, I am com-
ing.' I said, * I cannot; my sister is waiting for me.' He then threw
his coat over his shoulders, and followed me out, and whispered,
* Have you made up your mind, Martha ? ' ^ Not exactly, sir,* said I ;
and we parted. I shall proceed to a justice of the peace, and make
oath to the truth of these statements, and you are at liberty to make
•what use of them you may think best.

" Yours, respectfully,

" Martha H. Brotherton.

" Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 13th day of July, A. D.
1842. " Do BouFFAY Fremon,

^^ Justice of the Peace for St. Louis County.''

What a tale of infamy I What a record of black-hearted
villany and depravity! Well does this young lady deserve
the praise of her sex and the world, for her courage and
virtue in resisting and repulsing with such signal success
the foul miscreants who were tempting her to crime by
the most insidious and powerful arts.

The North^Westem Gazette and Galena Advertiser of

July 23, 1842, a paper edited by H. H. Haughton, Esq.,

in speaking on this subject, says, —

** In our columns to-day will be found the affidavit of Martha
H. Brotherton, who, it will be remembered, was called upon to
make a public statement of her treatment while among the Mor-
mons. Her story is told in an artless manner, and ffoes strongly to
corroborate Bennett's statement. There is sometning peculiarly
infamous in the practice of sending to England to induce simple-
hearted females to leave their homes, to be exposed to the arts or as
shrewd a set of scamps as could well be congregated together."

The Pittsburgh Morning Chronicle of July 26, 1842, a
paper edited by J. Heron Foster, Esq., and Wm. H. Whit-
ney, Esq., in alluding to the same circumstance, remarks, —

" The last Nauvoo Wasp, a Mormon pnper, contains Joe Smith's
phrenological chart, in which the organ of * Amativeness * is set
down as * very large — givinff a controlling influence, and very
liable to perversion.' We thiuK the afhdavit of Miss Brotherton, in
another column, proves the truth of the science of phrenology con-
clusively."

I should think as much. Joe's "Amativeness" is large,

VERY LARGE, — and perfectly unrestrained. There are

eyes that see that he knows not of, and ears that hear that

he understands aot, and that Uncircumcided Philistine will

AMOURS ANO ATTEMFfED SEDtTCTIONS. 241

find that Samson will be upon him in a day when he looks
not for him, and in an hour when he thinks not

MISS NANCY RIGDON.

Miss Rigdon is the eldest unmarried daughter of Sidney
Rigdon, Esq., and is a beautiful girl, of irreproachable
fame, great moral excellence, and superior intellectual en-
dowments. She is a young lady of many charms and '
varied attractions ; but she, too, was marked o^it for the
Cloister. Joe could not suffer a pretty woman to escape
without a trial. The inquisitorial seraglio must swallow
up most cases, and secure the beautiful birds of gaudy
plumage or fascinating charms. If they fail to be in-
snared by the Cyprian Saints, they are liable to be taken
in the net of the Chambered Sisters of Ckarity ; if they
pass that fiery, ordeal, the poisoned arrows of the Conse^
crattes of the Cloister await them : but this girl passed the
Rubicon with heroic firmness. Knowing that i had much
influence with Mr. Rigdon's family, Joe Smith said to me,
one day last summer, when riding together over the lawn,
in Nauvoo, '* If you will assist me in procuring Nancy as
one of my spiritual wives, I will give you five hundred
dollars, or the best lot on Main Street." I replied, ** I
cannot agree to it. Elder Rigdon is one of my best
friends, and his family are now pure and spotless, and it
would be a great pity to approach the truly virtuous."
** But," said Joe, ** the Lord has given her to me to wife.
I have the blessings of Jacob, [meaning thereby a plurality
of wives,] and there is no wickedness in it. It would be
wicked to approach her, unless I had permission of the
Lord ; but, as it is, it is as correct as to have a legal wife,
in a mora/ point of view." I replied that it might be so,
but that he must see her himself, as I could not approach
her on a subject of that kind. There I supposed the
matter had ended; but, at the funeral of Mr. Ephraim
R. Marks, Mrs. Hyde told Miss Rigdon that Joseph de-
sired to see her at the printing-office, where Mrs. Hyde
and Dr. Richards residea, on special business. She said
she would go, and accordingly did ; but Joe was busily en-
gaged at his store. Dr. Willard Richards, however, 090

S48 DISTORT or THE sAnn*s.

of the holy twelve Mormon Apostles, and Spiritual High
Priest, and Pander-Oeoeral for Lust; whom I had long
suspected as being up to his eyes in the business with Joe,
came in, and said, '< Miss Nancy, Joseph cannot be in to-
day ; please call again on Thursday." This she agreed to
do ; but she communicated the matter to Colonel Francis
M. Higbee, who was addressing her, and asked his advice
as to the second visit. I then came to a knowledge of the
facts, and went immediately to Joe, and said to him,
** Joseph, you are a Master Mason, and Nancy is a Master
Mason's daughter, [so is Mrs. Pratt, the daughter of Mr.
Bates ;] so stay your hand, or you will get into trouble —
remember your obligation" Joe replied, " You are my
enemy, and wish to oppose me." I then went to Colonel
Higbee, and told him Joe's designs, and requested him to
go immediately and see Miss Rigdon, and tell her the in-
fernal plot — that Joe would approach her in the name of
the Lord, by special revelation, &/C., and to put her on
her guard, but advise her to go and see for herself what
Joe would do. He did so, and she went down. Joe
was there, took her into a private room, (his favorite as-
signation room,) and locked the door, undoubtedly
thinking somewhat in the strain of the poet, —

" Najicy, my love, we ne'er were saffes,

But, trust me, all that Tully's zeal
Expressed for Plato's flowing pages,

All that, and more^ S>r thee I feel !

** Whate'er the heartless world decree,
Howe'er unfeeling prudes condemn,

Nancy ! Fd rather sin toith thee.
Than live and die a saint with them.*

Joe then swore her to secrecy, and told her that she
had long been the idol of his affections, and that he had
asked the Lord for her, and that it was his holy will that '
he should have her as one of the Chambered Sisters of
Charity ; but that, if she had any scruples on the subject,
he would consecrate her with the Cloistered Saint Sj and.
MARRY HER IMMEDIATELY — that it would Hot prevent her
from marrying any other person — that he had the bless-
ings of Jacob grafted to him — aad that all waa lawful

•

AMOURS iJiP AmSMPTED SEDUCTIONS. S43

aad right before God. He then attempted to kiss her, and
desired her to kiss him. — But we must again quote the
bard to express the scene : —

^< I ne'er on that lip for a minute hare gazed,

But a thousand temptations beset me ;
And I've thought, as the dear little rubies you raised,

How delicious 'twould be — if you'd let me !

*^ Then be not so angry for what I have done,

Nor say that you've sworn to forget me ;
They were buds of temptation too pouting to shun,

And I thought that — you could not but let me \

** When your lip with a whisper came elose to my cheek,

O, think how bewitching it met me !
And plain as the eye of a Venus could speak.

Your eye seemed to say — you vxndd let me !

<* Then forgive the transgression, and bid me remain,

For, in truth, if I go you'll regret me ;
Or, O ! — let me try the transgression again,

And I'll do all you wish — vnll you Let me f^*

But Joe couldn't come it — he had to stand back a
little, where he could see better — the Old Fox found sour
grapes once more! She told him she would alarm the
neighbors if he did not open the door and let her out im-
mediately. He did so; and, as she was much agitated, he
requested Mrs. Hyde to explain matters to her; and, after
agreeing to write her a doctrinal letter, left the house.
Mrs. Hyde told her that these things looked strange to her
at first, but that she would become more reconciled on
mature reflection. Miss Rigdon replied, ** I filler shall,"
left the ^ouse, and returned home. In a day at two, Dr.
Richards, who is so notorious for HydeAng in these last
days, handed her the following letter from the Prophet
Joe, (written by Richards, by Joe's dictation,) and reauest-
ed her to burn it after reading, to wit : —

" Happiness is the object and design of our existence, and will be
the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it ; and this path
is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping aU the com'
mandments of God; but we cannot keep ai.l the commandments
without first knowing them, and we cannot expect to know all, or
more than we now knowy unless we comply wUh or keep those we

•

944 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS*

have ALREADY RECEIVKO ! That which is wrong under one cir-
cumstance, may be, and often is, right under another. God said.
Thou shalt not kill ; at another time he said. Thou shalt utterly destroy.
This is the principle on which the governmejit of Heaven is con-
ducted, by R]!iv£LATioN adapted to tlie circumstances in which
the children of the kingdom are placed, jyhatever God requires is
right, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, although we may not see the reason
therec^ till long after the events transpire. If we seek first the
kingdom of Go^, all good things will be added. So with Sol/mion ;
first he asked wisdom, and Goagave it him, and with it every de-
sire OF HIS heart; even things which might be considered
ABOMINABLE to all who Understand the order of Heaven only ih
part, but which, in reality, were rigfU, because God gave and sane-
turned BY SPECIAL REVELATION. A parent may whip a child, and
justly too, because he stole an apple ; whereas, if the child had
asked for the apple, and the parent had given it, the child would
have eaten it with a better appetite; there would have been no
stripes ; all the pleasures of the apple would have been secured, all
the misery of stealing lost. This principle will justly apply to all
of God's dealings with his children. Every thin^ that God gives
us is latoful and right, and it is proper that we should enjoy his gifts
and blessings, whenever and wherever he is disposed to bestow;
but if we snould seize upon those same blessings and enjoyments
without law, without revelation, without COMMANDMENT,
those blessings and enjoyments would prove cursings and vexations
in the end, and we should have to lie down in sorrow and wailings
of everlasting regret. But in obedience there is joy and peace un-
spotted, unalloyed; and as God has designed our happiness, the
happiness of all his creatures, he never has, he never will, institute
an ordinance or give a commandment to his people that is not cal-
culated in its nature to promote that happiness which he has de-
signed, and which will not end in the greatest amount of good and
glory to those who become the recipients of bis law and ordinances.
Blessings offered, but rejected, are no longer blessings, but become
like the talent hid in the earth by the wicked and slothful
SERVANT ; the proffered good returns to the 'giver ; the blessing is be-
stowed on those wfw will receive, and occupy; for unto him that hath
shall be giiM^ and he shall have abundantly, but unto him that
hath not, o^Hu. not receive, shall be taken away that which he hath^
or might have had.

*^ * Be wise to-day; His madness to defer!
Next day the fatal precedent may plead )
Thus on till wisdom is pushed out of time,' into eternity.

'* Our Heavenly Father is more liberal in his views, and boundless
in his mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive,
and, at the same time, is more terrible to the workers of iniquity,
more awful in the executions of his punishments, and more readfy
to detect every false way than we are apt to suppose him to be ; he
will be inquired of by his children; he says, ^sk and ye shall re-
ceive, seek and ye shall find ; but, if ye will take that which ifi

AMOURS AND ATTEMPTED [^EDUCTIONS. 5!4S

not your own, or which I have not giyen yoa, yoa shall be rewarded
according to your deeds; but no good thing toill I wiUthM from
them who walk uprightly before me, and do my will in all. things ;
who will listen to my voice and to the voice of MY SERVANT
WHOM I HATE SENT ; for I delight iii those who seek diligently to
know my precepts, and abide by the laws of my kingdom; for all

THINGS SHALL BE HADE KNOWN UNTO THEH IN MINE OWN DUE

TIME, and in the end thet shall have joy.**

The original, of which the above is a literal copy, in
the haod-writing of Dr. Richards, is now in my possession.
It was handed me by Colonel F. M. Higbee, in the
presence of General George W. Robinson.

Here you have the doctrine ^ in bold relief, as taught in
the upper sanctuary of the great Mormon Seraglio. On
Tuesday, the 28th day of June last, Joe went to Mr. Rig-
don's, accompanied by his High Priest, George Miller, of
Sable Sister notoriety ^ for a witness for him that he had
successfully confronted Miss Rigdon, and, by boisterous
words and violent gestures, tried to deny the attempted
seduction and alarm the girl; but, with^dariiig bravery,
she met the Monster of Iniquity , and told him he was a
'* cursed liar; " that all that she had said of him was true
to the letter, and dared him to face her to the contrary.
Joe then made a full acknowledgment of the whole affair,
in presence of the family, and several other persons who
were present. The Demoniacal High Priest, George
Miller, then - groaned in the spirit, and cried aloud,
** You must not harm the Lord^s Anointed; the Lord will
not suffer his Anointed to fall! ! ! " If Joe did not offer
another lamb in sacrifice, as a burnt sin-offering, on an
altar of twelve stones, I fear the Destroying Angel will get
him, for even the fiends of his father's kingdom. have
demurred to the spiritual doctrines of his seraglio.

Hxtrad of a letter from Genial George W, Robinson to General
James Arlington Bennet, LL, D,, tokieh I take (he responsibility
of piihlishing, as U is a material document, andpejiinent to the
case under consideration,

" Nautoo, July 97, 1842.
«* Dear Sir,—

*^ Smith and Bennett have always been on vebt
friendly terms, and were together a great deal, and I have no doubt

21*

246 HISTOBT 07 THE SAINTS.

•

but that Bennett was Smith's confidant in nearly all things. It ap-
pears from General Bennett's story, that Smith stated that the doc-
trine ofa plurality of wives was correct, and that he intended \.o 'practise
upon the principles, and that he enjoined secrecy on Bennett, as also
on the females to whom he made known his desires and doctrine.
Bennett says that he (Smith) succeeded admirably in many instances,
and in others, he privately married the females who had any scruples

of conscience about con , &c. &c. General Bennett states that

Smith offered him $500, or his choice in town lots on Main Street,
if he would succeed in getting him Mr. Rigdon's eldest unmarried
daughter for a spiritual wife. Bennett utterly refused to have any
thivg to do with the maUer^ and cautioned Smith against suck an at-
tem//t. Smith says, 'You are my enemy,' &c. Bennett says to
.Smith, * If jou go there, you will get into trouble ; ' but Smith, it
seems, persisted, and was determined to succeed in all his under-
takings. Smith sent for Miss Rigdon to come to the house of Mrs.
Hyde, who lived in the under rooms of the printinff-office^ Miss
Rigdon inquired of the messenger who came for lier what was
wanting, and the only reply was, that Smith wanted to see her.
General Bennett came to Sliss Rigdon, and cautioned her, and. ad'
vised her not to place too much reliance on revelation ; but did tiot
enlighten her on the object of Smith, but advised her to go down
to Mrs. Hyde's, and see Smith. She accordingly went, and Smith
took her into another room, and locked the door, and then stated to
her that he had had an affection for her for several years, and wished
that she should be his ; that the Lord was well pleased with this
matter, for he had got a revelation on the subject, aiid God bad
^iven him all the blessings of Jacob, &c. &c., and that there was no
sm in it whatever; but, if she had any scruples of conscience about
the matter, he toould marry her privately, and enjoined her to
secrecy, &c. &c. She repulsed him, and viras about to raise the
neighbors if he did not unlock the door and let her out; and she
lefl him with disgust, and came home and told her father of the
transaction ; upon which Smith was sent for. He came. She told
the tale in the presence of all the family, and to Smith's face- /
was present. Smith attempted to deny it at first, hndfuce her down
with the lie ; but she told the facts with so much earnestness, and

the fact (» A LETTER BRING PRESENT, WHICH HE HAD CAUSED

TO BE WRITTEN TO HER, ON THE SAME SUBJECT, the day afler the
attempt made on her virtue, breathing the same spirit, and which he
had fondly hoped was destroyed, — all came with such force that he
could not withstand the testimony ; and he then and there acknowl-
edged that every word of Miss Rigdon* s testimony was true. Now
for hi» e3:cuse, which he made for such a base attempt, and for using
the name of the Lord in vain, on that occasion. He wished to

ilSCERTAlN WHETHER SHE WAS VIRTUOUS OR NOT, AND TOOK THAT

COURSE TO LEARN THE FACTS ! ! ! I would say. Sir, that / have
reason to believe General Bennett's story in his disclosures of Smith's
rascality; although f am not a witness to all of the facts, yet I am to
SOME. / liked to have forgotten to state that the affair with Miss Rig-
don was the cause of Smith's coming out so on Bennett, he having

AMOURS '^AND ATT£MPT£D SEDUCTIONS. 247

suspicions that Bennett had cactionep her on the matter —
and he loas further afraid that Bennett lootUd make disclosures of

OTHER MATTERS.

"Very respectfully, yours, &c.,

" George W. Robinson.*'

JFVom General Robinson to the Mthor.

* » Nauvoo, August 8, 1842.
*' General John C. Bennett :
« Dear Sir,—

" I have written General Jaraes Arlington Bennet,
and given him to understand the difficulties between yourself and
Smith. I have not yet responded to the call in the Sangamo Jour-
nal, but intend to do so soon. Orson Pratt will respond, in part,
this week ; and then, when ' The Wasp ' shall attack him, he
will respond more at length. There has been ad**** of a stir
here. They have encompassed sea and land to get a counter-state-
ment out of every person you have mentioned in your published
letters, or those you call upon, to come out and .state to the public
what they know. They have tried me to their satisfaction, and
have given me up as a reprobate. Frank has stated in ^ The Wasp *
that he knew nothing about the murder of a prisoner in Missouri ;
but he did not say he knew nothing about a prisoner's being shot^
as was ordered by Smith, and who toas shot, but aflerwards re-
covered. Frank will come out soon .; he is doing a g^od work. Mrs.
Pratt will come out, and so will Mr. Pratt. Mrs. White will come
out. She was at Mr. Rigdon's yesterday. She said she would tell
what she did know, but did not tell what it would be. Vinson
Knight died last Sunday — sick only two or three days. Mrs. Pratt
will criminate Knight : he heard that she was telling on him, and
he roared through the streets like a mad bull, and went to Alder-
man Marks to get a warrant for her. Marks could not make it out
then, and before Knigl^t had time to get it, he went whence
he will not return. Mr. Rigdon will say something as soon as he
is able to write. He has letters from all quarters, making inquiries
about your accusations against Smith ; he invariably answers them
with regard to the case of Nancy as it was, but says he knows noth-
ing of the balance, as he has been sick for some time, and did not
know what was going on ; but eo eager were the worthies to get
something from him, that they have taken an extract from a letter
which he wrote to H. Smith, some time ago, and they have put it
in * The Wasp,' as an answer to your call. Mr. Rigdon says,
* Drowning men catch at straws.' Nancy don't like to be called into
the field, to say any thing about her case herself, but says I may
mention it, which I shaU most assuredly do. I have something new
to communicate respecting Order Lodge, (though I do not expect
it is new to you.) Afler they are initiated into the lodge^ they have

^ r

•i

248 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

oil poured on them, and then a mark or hole cut in the hreast of
their shirts, which shirts must not be worn any more, but laid up
to keep the Destroying Angel from them and their families, and
they should never die ; but Knight's shirt would not save him. No
one must have charge of their shirts but their wives.

« « « * * * * *« * »

" Respectfully yours,

" G£OR6E W. Robinson."

From General Bpbiruon to the Author.

" Navtoo, September 16^ 164S.
" General Bennett :
"Dear Sir,—

** Your letter of August 26, written from New York,
was received yesterday. I was truly glad to hear from you once
more. I am here on business, as you know I now reside at JLa Harpe.
Joe keeps hid yet; he dare not show himself publicly. Hyrum
Smith and William Law have gone east pnisACHiNG ! ! as they say;
that is all I know about it. Some three or four hundred Mormons
have gone out, and are going, to put down the excitement which
you have raised, and to rebut your statements. They have an extra
* Wasp ' filled with affidavits to overflowing : some of the most

CURSED LIES IN IT THAT WERE EVER PRINTED OR THOUGHT OF.

They are kept secret from the people here, but are to be used when
away, for a lie is just as good for their use as any thing else,
so that people know nothing about it to the contrary.
Stephen Markhum swore that he saw improper conduct between you
and Nancy in the post-office. The young men in the city came for-
ward, and gave certificates against Markham, stating that they be-
lieved Mark ham wilfullv^and maliciously lied to injure the character
of Miss Rigdon, and to help Smith out of his dilemma, and that they
could not believe Markham under oath. You will see that Joe
wants prodigiously to get around the affair With Nancy, and will
try to do it at the expense of her.character. Mr. Rigdon has em-
ployed a lawyer (Calvin A. Warren, Esq.) to prosecute Markham
on his affidavit. Smith sent a letter to be read publicly in the con-
gregation last Sunday, written to General James Arlington Rennet,
of Flatbush, stating to him that he was. sorry to inform nim that tlie
Nauvoo post-office was corrupt; and that he was sorry to inform
him that John C. Bennett robbed the post-office, while he was here,
of all the moneys and letters addressed to him ; and that since you
went away, it has been robbed regularly by your confederates, (Mr.
Rigdon and myself, I suppose,) but called no names. Frank Higbee
[Colonel Francis M. Higbee] has gone to Ohio. He did not intend
to contradict your statements, but he knew of no prisoner killed;
yet he did not say that there were no prisoners ordered to be shot,
neither did he say that there was no prisoner or prisoners SHOT,
but not killed. Frank is true blue; but, I fear, like some others here,
he Lacks moral courage ! ! I am writing another article for the San-

AMOURS AND ATTEMPTED SEDUCTIONS. 249

^arao Journal, in obedience to the call, and I intend to give them
^ Jesse. Captain Joiin F. OIney lias, likewise, written an excellent
article as a response to the call. • Nancy staUda firiij in the. cause of
yirtue, and opposes Joe to the last. I am going to try to get Mrs.
White to come out with her *■ Budget.* Can't she tell a tale on Joe,
if she is disposed.'* You know. Orson Pratt has been expelled \\
and AvMisa Lyman takes his place, as one of the Apostles, in the
Quorum of ike Twelve ! ! ! * * *

" In haste,

" Yours, as ever,

" Geokge W. R0BIIC805."

The brave Captain Olney has spoken. Hear him.

From the Sangamo Journal of September 14, 1842.

"MORE OF JOE SMITH'S VILLANIES!

«« COMMUNICATION OF J. F. OLNEY, A SECEDING MORMON.

" La Harps, Hancock Co., September 10, 1843.

*' Editor of the Sangamo Journal :
" Dear Sir,—

" I wish to make, through the medium of your paper, a pub-
lic withdrawal from the Church of Latter Day Saints, as I cannot
longer consent to remain a member of said Church while polygamy,
lasciviousness, and adultery, are practised by some of its leaders.
That crimes of the deepest dye are tolerated and practised by them,
cannot be doubted.
^ " I have heard the circumstances of Smith's attack upon Miss
Rigdon, from the family as well as herself; and knowing her to be
a younff lady who sustains a good moral character, and also of un-
doubtea veracity, I must place implicit confidence in her statement,
the foul insinuations of that miserable little insect, ^The JVasp^* to the
contrary notwithstanding.

*' And having a persmud knowledge of Smith's lying at different
times in the name of the Lord, I cannot for a moment £)ubt but he
did so in the ease above alluded to. Smith is so fearful that his
character (which is poorest where best known) is about to take a
sudden flight to parts unknown, that he has lately, either by him-
self on the public stand, or by his or^n 'The Wasp,' attacked the
character of every person, who, he thmks, will demur, and proclaim
against his conduct, or, which is still worse, remain neutral, who
have been referred to by General Bennett, as witnesses or said
Smith's conduct, and been called upon by the public to state what
they know about the matter, and who have thus far refrained from
taking part with either side. These are they who feel the indig-
nation and wrath of the Prophet Smith, and who suffer in the
Mormon community by the foul calumny of these debauchees.

♦' I know that Miss Rigdon has been greatly mortified by being
obtruded before the public ; nevertheless, it was unavoidable on her
part, and if Smith succeeds in extricating himself from the awflil
dilemma in which he ftas placed himself^ by obtaining her certificate

350 HISTORY OF THB SAINTS.

I

to the contrary, then I am mach mistaken m the character of Miss
Rigdon. It is true that Mr. Rigdon has endeavored to allay the ex-
citement upon this subject, and has evaded a direct answer to the
public, as far as he could consistently with truth ; but that part which
%8 true he has left untouched. The fact of Smith's wishing to mutrv
Miss Rigdon as a spiritual wife, of his attack upon her virtue, his
teachings about his having the blessings of Jacob, &c. &c.^ as stated
in General Bennett's letters, ARE TRUE ; and if I am called upon
to prove it, I SHALL DO IT, to the satisfaction of the public, and
to the chagrin and mortification of Smith and others. The letter
published purporting to be from Smith to Miss Rigdon, was not in
Smith's hand-writing, but in the hand-writing of Dr. Willard Rich-
ards, who officiated not only as scribe, but post boy, for the Prophet,
and who did say that he wrote the letter as dictatm by Joseph Shnith^
and said Joseph Smitli did say, on a certain occasion, that he did
direct said Richards to write a letter to Miss Nancy Rigdon ; and I
now say I stand ready to prove these allegations by as respectable
WITNESSES as can be produced in Hancock county, and if Smith has
no other means by which he can extricate himself from this compUxio
argurhenti biconus, than by endeavoring to blast the characters of
the innocent and unoffending, to shield himself from infamy and
disgrace, then let him fire his Tormentum Murcde — and be gather^
unto his Fathers.

'^ General George W. Robinson. I have been acquainted
with tliis gentleman upwards of ten years. I have only to say,
where he is known, and in the communitv and circle in which he
moves, he is far above the reach of that foul ' Wasp,' and is alto-
gether above reproach. I was present when the transaction took
place between this gentleman and H. S. Eldridge, who then and
there expressed himself perfectly satisfied, and I presume that feeble
effitrt would never have been made to injure the reputation of
General Robinson, if he had not made public his withdrawal from
tiie Church. Said Robinson was formerly Joseph Smith's Sec-
retary, and was General Church Clerk, and Recorder for the
Church ; and I have heard Smith say that Robinson was the
bravest man in the Mormon Band, and that he (Robinson) had not
a drop of cowardly blood in his veins, and other eulogiums of the
same nature. But alas, how fallen ! — how fallen ! !

" Stephen Markham, who has favored the public with his afii-
davit,* with the apparent design to help Smith out of his dilemma

* Jfote 6y Vu Editor qf the Jtmmal. — " As our readers are not acquainted with
the facts in relation to Markbam's affidavit, a few words of explanation seem to be
necessary. It is well understood that when any of those ladies who are insulted
by Joe, resent his insults, and make an exposure of his baseness, be at once, with
his servile tools, attempts to destroy their character. Such was the case in the
present instance. Unable to corrupt Miss Rifdon, the miserable man, Markham,
was employed to make an affidavit against Miss Rigdon. But so well were the
community of Nauvoo satisfied of the unsullied purity of Miss R., and the villanv of
MHrkham, that after the publication of Markhum's affidavit, the editor of *^e
Wrtsp,' by Joe Smith's directions, was made to say that he (Joe Smith) did not prc^
cure for publication the said affidavit of Markham ! What a scene of villnny i«
here disclosed ! What putrid and corrupt wretches are acting in behalf of Joe
Smith to further his infamous designs !

AMOURS AND ATTEMPTED SEDUCTIONS. S5l

in the extraordinary a^r with Miss Rigdon, is a man of little or
no reputation, and I could not believe his statement, although made
under oath ; and Smith, it appears in ^ The Wasp ' of 3d inst.,
has akeady become disgusted with this worthy help-meet, and it
certainly is a wonder that others of the same character should not
share the same fate, for Smith must know they are an injuiy to
his cause. The Mormon Elders are now scattenng in every direc-
tion through our country, laden with lies to injure the innocent and
oppressed.

" Very respectfully, &c.

"John F. Olnet.

'^ P. S. Please publish the above, and you may hear from me
again soon. My family sickness, as also my own, may be sufficient
excuse for the long delay to respond to your call.

" J. F. O.

" N. B. Since writing the above, I have received several cer-
tificates, and many others proffered, to show to the public in what
light they may look upon the certificate of Stephen Markham,
against the character of Miss Rigdon. You will confer a favor
by publishing tliem to the world, and requesting other periodicals
to do the same ; for Smith has just sent out about three hundred
EldiTs from Nauvoo, and many others from other places, heavily
laden with such certificates, to rebut the statements of Genercd
Bennett. I have not entertained the least doubt, but that the certifi-
cates of Miss Brotherton, Mrs. Schindle, and many others, are true
to the very letter, concerning the conduct of Smith and others.

" J. F. O.

♦* Certyicate of CoUmd Carlos Gove.

« * Nautoo, September 3, 1842.
" ' Having been personally acquainted with Miss Nancy Rigdon, for
some time, I take pleasure in saying to the public, that I verily be-
lieve Miss Rigdon a lady who sustains a virtuous, chaste, moral, and
upright character, and that she has never given reason for amr one
whereon to rest a suspicion to the contrary, — and that the affidavit
of Stephen Markham was procured for purposes well known to the
public, — and I also believe said Markham to be a liar, disturber of
the peace, and what may justly be termed a loafer.

"* Carlos Gove.'

« Certificate of Sidney Rigdon, Esq,

" « Nauvoo, September 3, 1842.
" ^ Personally appeared before me, E. Robinson, a Justice of the
Peace, within and for the county of Hancock, and State of Illinois,
Sidney Rigdon, who, being duly swoin, deposeth and saith) that he

352 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.'

•

' is personally acquainted with Stephen Markham, of this eity, and
that said Markham is not to be believed ; that his word for truth and
veracity is not good ; that he could not believe said Markham under
oath, and that he did on a certain occasion testify under oath to that
which deponent knows to be false, and he verily believes said Mark-
ham knew the same to be false while testifying ; and further this de-
ponent saitli not. Sidney Rigdon.'

•' • Sworn to, this third day of September, A. D. 1842, before me»

" » E. Robinson, J. P.'

^Certificate of General George W, Bohinsoru

" * Nauvoo, September 3, 1842.

" * Having been acquainted with Stephen Markham, of the city of
Nauvoo, for many years, I can safely say that his character for truth
and veracity is not good, and that I could not believe him, under
oath ; and mat I am persondly knowing to his lying, and that his
character in general is that of a loafer, disturber of the peace, liar,
&c. ; and that he did come into the house of Sidney Rigdon, as sta-
ted in his affidavit, and that Dr. Bennett and Miss itigdon were
present, as well as myself, and that Miss Rigdon was then sick, and
Dr John C. Bennett was the attending physician ; and I do further
state that no such conversation or gestures as said Markham states,
took place or came under my observation ; and 1 do further believe
that said Markham did invent, concoct, and put in circulation, said
stories with a malicious design and intent to injure the character of
Miss Rigdon, and more particularly for the use of the £lders, who
are going out preaching to rebut Dr. Bennett's statements; and
further this deponent saith not. George W. Robinson."

" » Sworn to before me, L. R. Chaffin, a Justice of the Peace,
within and for the county of Hancock, and State of Illinois, this
ninth day of September, 1842. Lewis R. Chaffin, J. P.*

" Certificate of Colonel Henry Marks,

" * Having been acquainted with Miss Nancy Rigdon-for nearly
six years, I can say that she is a lady of a virtuous, chaste, and up-
ri(]fbt moral character, and I do not believe she ever gave any occa-
sion for the least suspicion to the contrary ; and I do further believe
the certificate of Stephen Markham to be false, and given with a ma-
licious design and intent to injure the character of Miss Rigdon un-
justly. Henrv Marks.

"«La Habpi:, UUaoit, September 10, 1842.'*'

AMOURS AKD CRIM. CON. CASES. 253

AMOURS AND CRIMINAL CONVERSATION CASES.

WIDOW FULLER— NOW MRS. WARREN.

Mrs. Warren is a woman of ordinary intellect, and not
particularly attractive in person, though far from being
ugly. She is, however, very licentious. In the fall of 1841 ,
/ sate her and Joe, the Prophet, in bed together.

*' Angels and ministers of grace defend us —
Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damned,
Bring with thee airs from heaven, or blasts from hell,
Be thy intents wicked or charitable,
Thou comest in such a questionable shape
That I will speak to thee.
Save me and hover o'er me with your wings.
You heavenly guards I — What would your gracious figure ? "

This was at the time alluded to by Mrs. Schindle, wife of
Colonel George Schindle, in her affidavit, procured by that
indefatigable officer, Colonel Chauncey L. Higbee.

" Statb of Illinois, |
McDonough County, \ '

" Personally appeared before me, Abram Fulkerson, one of the
Justices of the Peace in and for said county, Melissa Schindle, who,
being duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith that in the
fall of 1841, she was staying one ni^ht with the widow J'uUer, who
has recently been married to a Mr. Warren, in the city of Nauvoo,
and that Joseph Smith came into the room where she was sleeping
about ten o'clock at night, and after making a few remarks, came t^
her bedside, and asked her if he could have the privifege of sleep-
jng with her. She immediately rephed. No. He, on the receipt of
the above answer, told her that it was the will of the Lord that he
diould have illicit intercourse with her, and that he never proceeded
to do any thing of that kind with any woman, without first having
the will of the Lord on the subject ; and further he told her that if
she would consent to let him have such intercourse with her, she
could make his house her home as long as she wished to do so, and
that she should never want for any thing it was in his power to assist
her to ; but she would not consent to it. He then told her that if
she would let him sleep with her that night, he would give her five
dollars ; but she refused all his propositions. He then told her that
she must never tell of his propositions to her, for he had all influ-
ence in that place, and if sne told he would ruin her character, and
she would be under the necessity of leaving. He then went to an
adjoining bed, where the widow Fuller was sleeping, got into bed

22

854 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

with her, and lay there until about one o'clock, when he got up, bad&
them good night, and left them , and further this deponent saith not.

her

" Melissa X Schindlx;,

mark.

f* Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 2d, day of July, 1842.

" A. FULKERSON, J. P."

Joe, did you offer another sacrifice 1 If not, the De-
stroying AngeJ will come. But as you succeeded with
Mrs. Fuller that night, as you told me, —

" A little still she strove, and much repented.
And whispering, ' I will ne'er consent,' consented^" —

that may take off the curse. Joe says, " There are won-
derful things in the land of Ham, and terrible things
by the Red Sea," but that he has no desire to do such
things; he only does it to show that he is a MTan as
weir as a Prophet^ and to try the faith of the Saints !
He certainly takes a very delightful way to show himself
a man, and try the faith of the Saints. This is certainly
several degrees beyond the milking of the Gentiles !
O tempora I O mores ! When the Pontifical Head of
the Mormon Harem fails in one case, he succeeds at least
in a triplicate ratio. As the Harlot's Paramour, he
takes them Couple-Main, His manipulations and un-
sophisticated affections are wonderful, —

" But always without malice ; if he warred
Or loved, it was with what we call * the best
Intentions,' which form all mankind's trump card,
To be produced when brought up to the test. ^

The statesman, hero, harlo^ lawyer, ward
Off each attack, when people are in quest
Of their designs, by saying they meant well;
'Tis pity * that such meanmg gnould pave hell.' **

If the devil don't get Joe Smith, there is no use in
having any devil.

^ Just Heaven! what must be thy look
When such a wretch before tnee stands,
Unblushing, with thy sacred book,

Turning the leaves with blood-stained hands,
And wrefltinff from its page sublime
His creed Qf lixfft, and nate, and crime I *'

d

AMOURS AND CRIM. CON. CASES. 95S

Mrs. Schindle is a woman of ordinary capacity, rather
handsome, firm in her integrity, and inflexible in iier pur*
poses. The Prophet opened upon this lady the vial of the
wrath of his fornication, in order to invalidate her testi*
mony; but she held the emtidoie, and has signally tri-
umphed over His Holiness, the Prophet and Heir Ap-
parent to the Throne of His Tartarean Majestit.
Col. Schindle should teach the Monster a lesson not soon
to be forgotten, by exhibiting to him the igneous — — .

" Who would be free, themselves must strike the blow !
By their right arm the conquest must be wrought : " —

*' A word to the wise is sufficient." The Mormon Moun-
tebank will never cease his folly, brutality, and crime,
until he is made to feely in propria persona, the penalty of
violated laws. He may buy up many whom he has grossly
insulted, to perjure themselves for his safety and deliver-
ance, but the public now know how to appreciate Mormon
statements and Mormon testimony, — as the evidence of
a murderous and prostituted race, the dregs and outcasts
of society !

*( God quit you in his mercy ! Hear your sentence :
You have conspired against my quiet person,
Joined with an enemy, and from his coffer^
Received the golden earnest of my death ;
Wherein vou have sold your chief to slaughter,
His friends and his compeers to servitude.
Touching my person, I seek no revenge ;
But I my nation's safety must so tender,
Whose ruin you have sought, that to her laws
I do deliver vou. Go therefore hence,
Poor miserable wretches, to your death,
The taste whereof God of his mercy give .
Ton patience to endure, and true repentance
Of all your dire offences."

WIDOW BJXLLER.

Mrs. Miller is one of Joe's most notorious Cyprian
S^ts. She became so by means of the Inquisition, be-
fore whom she confessed that she had been seduced by the
Prophet, under an assurance that the proceeding was all

256 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

correct, and in accordance with the will and express per-
mission of the Lord. She is a voluptuous woman, of ordi*
nary capacity, black hair and eyes, round . fea,tures^ and
free and lively disposition.
Joe looked upon her, and thought, —

'* O Pleasure ! you're indeed a pleasant thing,
Although one must be damned for you, no doubt ;
I make a resolution every spring .
Of reformation, ere the year run out ;
But, somehow, this my vestal vow takes wing,
Yet still, I trust, it may be kept throughout :
I'm very sorry, very much ashamed,
And mean next winter to be quite reclaimed.'"

But,

" Alas ! the love of women J it is known
To be a lovely and a fearful thing ;
For all of theirs upon that die is thrown,
And if 'tis lost, life hath no more to bring
To them but mockeries of the past alone.
And their revenge is as the tier's spring.
Deadly, and quick, and crushmg ; yet as real
Torture is theirs ; what they inlict they feel."

I might mention a vast number of similar cases if I had
space in this Expose, and was not restrained by a desire
to do no injury to Joe's unfortunate victims, who have
already suffered more' than death, as aptly described by
the poet, —

" Poison be their drink.
Gall, worse than gall, the daintiest meat they taste ;
Their sweetest shade a grove of cypress- trees.
Their sweetest prospects murdering basilisks.
Their softest touch as smart as lizard's stings,
Their music frightful as the serpent's hiss.
And bodinff screech-owls make the concert full ;
All the foul terrors of dark-seated hell."

But I desist.

In concluding this subject, however, I will semi-state
two or more cases, among the vast number, where Joe
Smith was privately married to his spiritual wives — in the
case of Mrs: A**** S****, by Apostle Brigham Young;
and in that of Miss L***** B*****, by Elder Joseph
Bates Noble. Then there are the cases of Mrs. B****,
Mrs. D*****, Mrs. S»»**»»*, Mrs. G*****, Miss B*****,
etc. etc.

INCIDSNTAL. RErLECTIONS. 857

<

** Ah, Jaatph ! with eyes of heavy mind,
I see thy glory, like a shooting star,
Fall to the base earth, from the firmament !
Thy sun sits weeping in the lowly west.
Witnessing storms to come, woe, and unrest;
Thy frien£i are fled, to wait upon thy foes,
And crossly to thy good all fortune goes."

This thing of sending off the Elders to preach, in order
to cloister their wives, sisters, and daughters, is Latter
Day-isM with a vengeance ! « There are none so hlind as
they that won't see."

^ Would curses kill, as doth the mandrake's groan,
I would invent as bitter searching terms.
As curst, as harsh, and horrible to hear.
Delivered strongly through my fixed teeth.
With full as many si^s of deadly hate
As lean-faced Envy m her loathsome cave.
My tongue should stumble in mine earnest wo^ds,
Mine eyes should sparkle like the beaten flint,
Mine hair be fixed on end like one distract.
Ay, every joint should seem to curse and ban ;
And, even now my burdened heart would break,
Should I not curse them

It appears from the mass of evidence in this Expos6,
that the Mormon Hierarchy are guilty of infidelity, deism,
atheism; lying, deception, blasphemy; debauchery, las-
civiousness, b^tiality; madness, fraud, plunder; larceny,
burglary, robbery, perjury ; fornication, adultery, rape,
incest; arson, treason, and murde^ and they have out-
heroded Herod, and out-deviled the devil, slandered God
Almighty, Jesus Christ, and the holy angels, and even
the devil himself, when they supposed him inimical to
their plans and operations ; and it is not, therefore, to be
wondered at, that they should pour forth, with great fury and
without mixture, the vials of their fierce wrath and fiery
indignation, through their eastern and western official
organs, upon the head of the author of this work ; but .
their liquid Tartarean lava and barbed arrows, dipped in the
quintessence of Mormon ribaldry, shall be turned, by the
helmet of truth, against themselves — the uncircumcised

22*

L

BiiTORY or TBS SAirag.

Philistines, foul fiends of iniquity, and devoteti worshippers
of Mammon. " Cease^ vipers ; you bitb a file." The
Great God is with me, and will plead my righteous cause
agaiust FALSE witnesses uxtdi persecuting fiends.

** Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me : fight
against them that fiffht against me. Take hold of shield and buck-
ler, and stand up for my help.' Draw out also the speqr, and stop
the way against them that persecute me : say unto my soul, I am thy
salvation. Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after
my soul : let them be turned back and brought \p confusion that de-
vise my hurt. Let them be as chaff before the wind : and let the
anffel of the Lord chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery :
and let the angel of the Lord persecute them. For without cause
have they hid for me their net in a pit which without cause they
have digged for my soul. Let destruction come upon him at una-
wares ; and let his net that he hath hid catch himseu : into' that very
destruction let him fall. And mv soul shall be jovful in the Lord :
it shall rejoice in his salvation. AH my bones shall say, Lord, who
is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong
for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him .'
False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that
I knew not. They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my
soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sack-
cloth : I humbled my soul with rasting, and my prayer returned into
mine own bosom. I behaved myself as though he had been my
friend or brother : I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for
his mother. But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered
themselves together : yea, the abjects ^thered themselves together
against me, and I knew it not ; they did tear me, and ceased not :
with hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with
their teeth. Lord, how long wilt thou look on .' rescue my soul
from their destructions, my darling from the lions. I will give thee
thanks 19 the great congregation : I will praise tiiee among ranch
people. Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice
over me : neither let thejjL wink with the eye that hate me witJiout
a cause. For they speajBiot peace : but they devise deceitful mat-
ters against them that are quiet in the land. Yea, they opened their
mouth wide against me, and said, Ah;!L, aha ! our eye hath seen it
This thou hast seen, O Lord : keep not silence. O Lorx», be not
far from me. Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto
my cause, my God, and my Lord. Judge me, O Lord my God,
according to thy righteousness ; and let them not rejoice over me.
Let them not say in their hearts. Ah, so would we have it : let them
not say. We have swiillowed him up. Let them be ashamed and
brought to confusion tog^ether that rejoice at my hurt: let them be
clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify themselves against
roe. Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that fiivor my righteous
c^qse : yea, let them say continually. Let thQ Lord be magnified,
which nath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. And mf
tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day
long." — F9. zzzv.

i

IMOIMWTAL REVI^SCnONft* 9B9

Though the Prophet buys off, with a heavy price,
the Saints and Jctcks to swear against me, though he buys
up all with promises of gold and glory, V\l stand alone
with shield and rapier, and fight the fearful odds until I'm
vanquished, or crowned a victor in the battle-field ; but,
looking through the vista of time, I see a mighty host,
myriads, coming to the rescue ; and still they com^ ; the
air darkens with the gathering throng ; they come " to
the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the
mighty." The noble and brave General George W. Rob-
inson has issued his bull excommunicating the Mormon
Church from his fellowship. His voice is heard in the
west like the thunderings of Sinai ! The proffered gold
could not tempt him from the path of truth, and he now
cries, ** God and Liberty ! I " All who have the morcd
courage will follow in the train, until the Mormon Babel
shall become a solitary, and its Baal a wandering vagor
bond! Those who cannot be bought with gold and glory
will now abjure the Dauphin Prince of hell^ (the Holy
Joe,) and celebrate his hegira as an epoch of returning
sanity !

Hear the impious Prophet speak.

From the Bagton Daily Mail of October 7, 1843.

<* A VOICE FROM JOB SMITH'S HIDING-PLACE.

** The foUowinff letter from. Joe Smith, published in the Timet
and Seasons, the Mormon paper at Naavoo, shows that the where-
abouts of the miserable Impostor is still unknown to the world. It
ifl rather inglorious for a man who claims the power of working
miracles, thus to crawl into his hole with fear, fiut his letter is a
rich one, for all that. Joe's * spiritual wives ' must be in great

tribulation.

"' September 1, 1849.
<< < To all the Saints in Nauvoo :

" < Forasmuch as the Lord has revealed unto me that
my enemies, both of Missouri and this State, were again on the pur-
suit of me ; and inasmuch as they pursue me without cause, and have
not the least shadow or coloring of justice or right on their side, in
the getting up of their prosecutions against me ; and inasmuch as their
pretensions are all founded in falsehood, of the blackest dye, I have
thought it expedient, and wisdom in me, to leave the place for a
short season, fbr my own safety and the safety of this people. I
would say to all those with whom I have business, that I have left
my 9ttun with «g»]it9 atid cltrki, who will transact all business in

260 HISTORY or THE SAINTS.

a prompt and proper manner ; and will see that all my debts are
oaocelled in due time, by turning out property, or otherwise as the
case may require, or as the circumstances may admit of. When I
learn that the storm is fully blown over, then I will return to you
again.

<^ * And as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they
seem but a small thing to me, as the envy and wrath of man have
been my common lot all the days of my life ; and for what cause, it
seems mysterious, unless I was ordained from before the foundation
of the world, for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call
it. Judffe ye for yourselves. God knoweth all these things,
whether it be ^ood or bad. But nevertheless, deep water is what I
am wont fo swim in ', it all has become a second nature to me. And
I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation, for to this day has the God
of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me
henceforth ] for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies,
for the Lord God hath spoken it.

**• *• Let all the Saints rejoice, therefore, and be exceeding glad, for
Israel's God is their God ; and he will mete out a just recompense
of reward upon tlie heads of all your oppressors.

" * And again, verily thus saith the Lord, Let the work of my Tem-
ple, and all Uie works which I have appointed unto you, be continued
on, and not cease; and let your diligence, and your perseverance,
and patience, and your works be redoubled ; and you shall in no
wise lose your reward, saith the Lord of Hosts. And if they perse-
cute, so persecuted they the Prophets, and righteous men that were
before you. For all this there is a reward in neaven.

" * And again I give unto you a word in relation to the baptism for
your dead. Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning your
dead, When any of you are baptized for your dead, let there be a
Recorder; and let him be eye-witness of your baptisms; let him
hear with his ears, that he may testify of a truth, saith the Lord ;
that in all your recordings, it may be recorded in heaven ; that
whatsoever you bind on earth, may be bound in heaven; what-
soever you loose on earth, may be loosed in heaven ; for I am about
to restore many things to the earth, pertaining to the priesthood,
saith the Lord of Hosts.

*' * And again. Let all the records be had in order, that they may
be put in the archives of my Holy Temple, to be held in remem-
brance from generation to generation, saith the Lord of Hosts.

" * I will say to all the Saints, that I desired, with exceeding great
desire, to have addressed them from the stand, on the subject orbap-
tism for the dead, on the following Sabbath. But inasmuch as it is
out of my power to do so, I will write the word of the Lord from
time to time, on that subject, and send it you by mail, as well as
many other things.

" * I now close my letter for the present, for the want of more time ,
for the enemy is on the alert, and as the Savior said, The prince of
this world cometh, but be hath nothing in me.

*^ * Behold my prayer to God is, that you all may be saved. And
I subscribe myself your servant in the Lord, Prophet and Seer of the
Church of Jeans Christ of Latter Day Saints.

mCIDENTAL REFLECTIONS.

1

36S HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

Prom Colond C. L, Higbee to the Atdhor.

** Nautoo, August 14, 1843.
*' General Beknett :

" Dear Sir, —

"Doctor Weld favored me with the perusal of your letter
of July li^; and why you have liot written me is entirely a mys-
tery. I cannot believe, for a moment, that you have tbrgotten
a person who has stood by you as I have done, both in prosperity
and exile ; for I assure yon, Doctor, that 1 shall never forsake
or forget y<m, nor the scenes through which . we have passed to-

f ether. I'here is quite a rip u-p in our city this week. A demand
as been made by Governor Reynolds, of Missouri, on the affidavit
of Ex-Governor Boggs, for O. F. Rockwell and Joseph Smith; on
which demand Governor Carlin, last Saturday, issued his writ.
On Monday, the officers (Thomas C. King and James M. Pitman)
[two excellent ministerial officers] arrivejf in this city. Rockwell
and Jue surrendered themselves, and immediately applied to the
Municipal Court for a writ of Habeas Corpus. The writ was issued
forthwith, and immediately served by the Marshal on King and
Pitman, who refused to give up ihe prisoners, by disputing the
legality of the writ, as any men who were determined to do their
duty would do. They agreed to settle the matter, however, by Joe's
making some masonic pH^dges to the officers ^o deliver himself and
Rockwell up at any time when called for. The officers returned to
Quincy to take advice as to the legality of the writ of Habeas Cor-
pus ; but before they had time to return, the prisoners sloped. Fit-
man is here watching, and King has returned to Warsaw to publish
them. Hyrum Smith stated to-day, in the stand, that Rockwell
and Joe had gone to Washington city, and were going from thence
to England ; out it is my ojpinion that they are here in the neighbor-
hood. There is a great ^qbX of confusion here amongst the Saints.
Some are for going to the Oregon Territory, and some one place and
some another. The Prophet prophesied on the stand, about four
weeks since, that * Bennett never would have influence enough to
get a demand made for him ; ' but, alas ! he has, at this late hour,
realized his mistake. Eliza Rigdon is said to be dying. [She is one
of the most devoutly pious girls in the world, and I am truly happy
to learn, by more recent letters, that she is fast recovering.]

" Your friends here are firm, and desire to see you very much.
Your presence is now required in the west, and I advise you to
come immediately on. Your presence would give fresh courage to
your friends, and a ze€t to the whole proceedings that could not be
otherwise inspired. ^ Napoleon should be in the field.'

" I have scrupulously attended to llie business, which you confided
to my care. All the friendk desire to be respectfully remembered
to you. " Your friend,

" Chauncey L. Higbee.'*

I shall be in Independence, Jackson county, Missouri,
as soon as possible, to put the ball in motion; (to which

DAUGHTER OF ZION. 265

place my friends will hereafter direct their communica-
tions to me ;J and if the war must be carried to the knife,
and the knife to the hilt, the sons of thunder will drive it
through. The eyes of a Boggs will never slumber nor
sleep, until the rod of Aaron divides the waters , and the
supremacy of the Constitution and the laws is acknowl-
edged in the land, and violence and misrule hide their
hydra head ; and I shall hold the rapier of justice in my
right hand, and my left arm shall bear the shield of truth,
until I bruise the Serpent's head.

DAUGHTER OF ZION.

This is a secret society of many years' standing, and
was first formed in Missouri : the great majority of the
members are among the ^^ huge paws ^^ of the Mormons,
and they compose as pretty a set of ruffians as can be found
in Christendom or elsewhere. The society was instituted for
the purpose of driving out from the Holy Land, their earthly
paradise, in Missouri, all apostates or dissenters from the
Mormon faith. It was, therefore, at first called the ** Big
Fan^^ inasmuch as it fanned out the chaff from the wheat.
This name, however, did not seem sufficiently dignified for
80 holy a body, and was soon set aside for a scriptural
appellation ; they were called the " Brother of Gideon ; "
but the rationale of this title I have never been able to dis-
cover. They are usually styled Danites, and sometimes
Daughter of Zion, for the origin of which names, see Micah
iv. 13; read the whole chapter; also Judges xvii. and
xviii.

The following is the constitution of this society : —

** Whereas, in all bodies laws are necessary for the permanency,
safety ) and well-being of society, we, the members of the society of
the Daughter of Zion, do agree to regulate ourselves under such
laws as, in righteousness, shall be deemed necessary for the preser-
vation of our holy religion , and of our most sacred rights, and of the
rights of our wives and children. But to be explicit on the subject,
it IS especially our object to support and defend the rights conferred
on us by our venerable sires, who purchased them with the pledges

2o

1

366 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

of their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors. And now, to
prove ourselves worthy of the liberty conferred on us by them, in
the providence of Qod, we do agree to be governed by such laws as
shall perpetuate these high privfleges, of which we know ourselves
to be the rightful possessors, and of which privileges wicked and de-
signing men have tried to deprive us, by all manner of evil, and that
purely in consequence of the tenacity we have manifested in the
discharge of our duty towards oar God, who had given us those
rights and privileges^ and a right in common with others, to dwell
on this land. But we, not having the privileges of others allowed
unto us, have determined, like unto our fathers, to resist tyranny,
whether it be in kings or in the people. It is all alike unto us.
Our rights we must have, and our rights we shall have, in the name
of Israel's Grod.

'^Art. 1. All power belongs originally and legitimately to the
people, and they have a right to dispose of it as they shall aeem fit;
bat, as it is inconvenient and impossible to convene the people in all
cases, the legislative powers have been given by them, from time to
time, into the hands of a representation composed of delegates from
the people themselves. This is and has been the law, both in civil
and religious bodies, and is the true principle.

'* Art. 2. The executive power shall be vested in the President
of the whole Churchy and his Councillors.

" Art. 3. The legislative powers shall reside in the President and
his CounciUars together, and with the Generals and Ckflonels of tlie
society. By them all laws shall be made regulating the society.

*^ Art. 4. All offices shall be during life and good behavior, or to
be regulated by the law of God.

" Art. 5. The society reserves the power of electing its own
officers, with the exception of the Aids and Clerks which the officers
may need in their various stations ; the nomination to so from the
Presidency to his second, and from the second to the third in rank^
and so down through all the various grades. Each branch or depart-
ment retains the power of electing its own particular officers.

^' Art. 6. Punishment shall be administered to the guilty in accord*
ance to the offence ; and no member shall foe punished without
law, or by any others than those appointed by law for that purpose.
The legislature shall have power to make laws regviatijig pumsh-
mentSf as, in their judgments^ shall be wisdom and righteousness.

'' Art. 7. There shall be a Secretary, whose business it shall be to
keep all the legislative records of the society ; also to keep a register
of the names of every member of the society ; also the rank of the
officers. He shall also communicate the laws to the Grenerals, as
directed by laws made for the regulation of such business by the
legislatare.

*' Art. 8. All officers shall be subject to the commands of the
Captain-General, ^iven through the Secretary of War; and so all
officers shall be suoject to their superiors in rank, ticcording to laws
made for that purpose."

The oath by which the Danites were bound in Missouri,
is as follows : —

DAUGHTER OF ZION. 267

*< In the name of Jesns Christ, the Son of God, I do solemnly
obligate myself ever to conceal, and never to reveal, the secret pur*
poses of tms society, called the Daughter of Zion. Should I ever
do the same, I hold my life as the fomiture.*'

This obligation was, however, subsequently altered, in a
secret council of the Inquisition at Nauvoo, so as to read, —

" In the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, I do solemnly
obligate myself ever to regard the Prophet, and First Presidency of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as the Supreme
Head of the Church on Earth, and to ol>ey them in all things the
same as the Supreme God; that I will stand by my brethren in
danger or difficulty, and will uphold the Presidency, right or wrong :
and that I will ever conceal, and never reveal, the secret purposes
of this society, called the Daughter of Zion. Should I ever do the
same, I hold my life as the forfeiture, in a caldron of boiling oil."

Those who belonged to the society when under its old
organization, but refused to take the new oath, were,
together with those whose fidelity was doubtful, absolved
firom the Missouri obligation. But to the faithful of the
band, and to about twelve hundred new members, the
Nauvoo oath was administered by Joe Smith in person.
While the candidate was yet kneeling before the altar,
afler having taken the oath, the Holy Prophet, assisted by
Hyrum Smith, the Patriarch of the Church, and George
Miller, the President of the High Priest's duorum, ap-
proached, and said, —

*< In the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by the author-
ity of the Holy Priesthood, we, the First President, Patriarch, and
High Priest, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,
representing the First, Second, and Third Gods in Heaven, — the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, — do now anoint you with
holy, consecrated oil, and by the imposition of our hands, do ordain,
consecrate, and set you apart, for the holy calling, whereunto you
are called ; that you may consecrate the riches of Uie Gentiles to the
House of Israel, bring swift destruction upon apostate sinners, and
execute the decrees of Heaven, without rear of what man can do
unto yo'tt. So mote it be. Amen."

It will be perceived from the above, that the Danites are
solemnly bound, under penalty of forfeiting their lives in a
horrid manner, to obey and execute the decrees of the
Mormon leaders, whether the latter are right or wrong !
No matter if they are commanded to commit treason, mur-
der, arson, burglary, perjury, or any crime whatever; do it

266 HISTORY OF THP SAINTS.

they must, or violate their oath, and forfeit, in consequence,
their life. And, in fact, all these crimes have been com-
mitted by them, in man^ instances, no doubt, under the
impression that they were doing God service ! So grossly
has the Prophet deluded his miserable followers !

That they make no scruple whatever to commit perjury,
when deemed requisite for the welfare of their Church, or
of its priests and chief men, is abundantly proved, not only
by the atrocious falsehoods they have propagated about
me, — falsehoods so gross as to be almost unworthy of
notice or refutation, — but by the testimony given before
Judge King, of Missouri, and published in 1841, by order
of the General Assembly of that State; which testimony
affords ample proof, that the Mormons of the Danite Order
had no hesitation in committing the most barefaced perju-
ries, when they could thereby advance the interests of their
rulers. This is particularly shown in the testimony of
Colonel George M. Hinkle, T. C. Bui-ch, Esq., Fanny
Brewer, and others, which I have copied into this work.

Now, what material difference is there between this
Joseph Smith and the leader of a band of highway rob-
bers, or 4.he captain of a crew of pirates ? Does not the
Mormon deserve more utter condemnation than either the
bandit or the buccaneer, inasmuch as his wickedness is
upon a more extensive scale, and is perpetrated in the
name of religion and of the Most High God, thus blas-
pheming and desecrating the holiest names and objects to
the vilest and most atrocious purposes?

The number of Danites is now about two thousand, or
two thousand five hundred, and, as I before observed, they
are drawn from the ** huge paws" of the Mormon Church.

DESTROYING ANGEL.

Prom the elite of the Danites, or Daughter of Zion,
twelve men are selected, who are called Destructives, or
Destroying Angel, and sometimes Flying Angeh Their

DESTROYING ANGEL. 271

duty is to act as spies, and watch the movements of all
persons, both Saints and Gentiles, and to report all that
they hear and observe to the First Presidency, as circum-
stances may require.

This band was at first called only "Destructives/* or
" Destructionists," and their leader or captain the "De-
stroying Angel ; " but in time, the latter appellation was
given to the whole body. They are bound by the fol-
lowing oath : —

*^ In the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, I do covenant and
agree to support the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints, in all things, right or wrong ; I will faithfully
guard them, and report to them the acts of all men, as fiir as in my
power lies ; I will assist in executing all the decrees of the First
President, Patriarch or President of the Twelve ; and that I will
cause all who speak evil of the Presidency, or Heads of the Church,
to die the death of dissenters and apostates, unless they speedilv
confess and repent; for pestilence, persecution, and death, shall fol-
low the enemies of Zion. I will be a swifl herald of salvation, and
messenger of peace to the Saints, and I will never make known the
secret purposes of this societv, called the Destroying Angel, my
life being the forfeiture in a fire of burning tar and brimstone. So
help me God, and keep me steadfast."

* The members of this band, when engaged in the e xecu-
tion of any importiint decree^ a re clothed in female aj _^ ^
wearing a snow-white robe and a scarlet girdle. This is
the band alluded to by Judge King in his communication
to the Executive of Missouri, and by Thomas B. Marsh
and others. They are bound to consecrate the riches of
the Gentiles to the house of Israel, which, in plain English,
means, to rob and plunder the people who are not Mor-
mons, and appropriate the spoils to the use of the Church.
They also pledge themselves to poison the wells and the
food and drink of dissenters, apostates, and all enemies of
2<ldh, aiid t6 milf der IhOde who refuse to tithe or contribute
the tenth part of their property to the use of the Church,
and, in short, to destroy by fire and sword all the enemies
of Mormonism, and to assist in all things in building
up the kingdom spoken of by the prophet Daniel.

These Destructives, in their capacities of spies and in-
formers, are of great service to the Prophet, and assist
materially in extending and confirming his influence over
the Mormons. They generally call upon him every morn-
ing, and make a detailed report of the sayings and doings

21*2 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

of various persons in Nauvoo, or elsewhere, as th^ Prophet
may direct them. These reports are listened to with great
attention by Holy Joe, and carefully treasured up for
future use. When he is desirous of making an impression
on any individual of his followers, he turns to the partic-
ulars of that individual's conduct and conversaticHi, com-
municated by the spies, calls upon him at a convenient
opportunity, and gravely inform? him that he has received
from the Lord a revelation respecting him. The person
thus addressed is, of course, not a little startled by this ex-
traordinary announcement, and earnestly requests to be
informed of the nature of the facts so graciously com-
municated by the Lord. Joe then, with all due solemnity,
proceeds to state that the Angel of the Lord had come
down^and told him, that on such and such a day, brother
Johtison, or Thompson, or whatever the name may be, had,
at such or such a place, done and said so and so. Brother
Johnson of course opens his eyes very wide, at this revela-
tion, and is more firmly than ever convinced that Smith is
the Prophet of the Lord ! '* For how else," reasons he,
" could he know so particularly what I have been doing,,
when I am quite sure he was not within a mile of me ? "
Thus deluded, brother Johnson takes good care to com-
municate his extraordinary case to his cronies, and the
result is a genfefal persuasion among the mass of the Mor-
mons, that Joe Smith is not far from omniscient, and that
it is safest to be very careful of their sayings and doings^
for there is no telling whether or jiot the Apgel of the
Lord is watching them, in order to communicate to the
Prophet their proceedings.

ORDER LODGE.

This is a secret lodge or society, established by Joe
Smith, in consequence of a special revelation from heaven,
which he pretended to have received respecting it. It
was intended to enable him more effectually to execute his
clandestine purposes. None but the very elite of the Mor-

J2f^. 2-?/

1

ORDER LODGE. 275

mons are admitted into this lodge, as the mysteries of the
Holy Priesthood are there, more fully thaa elsewhere,
explained to the members, who are initiated only after they
have bound themselves, by a most solemn oath, to profound
and inviolate secrecy.

*^ Order is Heaven's first law ; and, that confessed,
Some are, and most be, greater than the rest."

The ceremonies of initiation are in perfect keeping with
the general absurdity of the new dispensation, and with the
Holy Joe's mission for the ^* restoration of the ancient
order of things."

The lodge-room is carefully prepared and consecrated ;
and from twelve to twenty-four sprigs of cassia, olive
branches, cedar boughs, or other evergreens, are tastefully
arranged about it. These are intended to represent the
eternal life and unmingled bliss, which, in the celestial
kingdom, will be enjoyed by all who continue in full fel-
lowship with " Order Lodge."

The aspiring candidate for '* Hoty Orders" obtains ad-
mission into this sanctified body in the following manner :
He is stripped naked, and blindfolded ; he is then brought
into the lodge-room, and in that state is conducted round,
so that all the members of the lodge may be satisfied, by
personal inspection, that he is a fit subject for their august
association, and that he possesses the qualifications re-
quired in Deuteronomy, twenty-third chapter and first
verse. While the candidate is passing round the room, in
this ridiculous and degrading condition, the most excellent
Grand Master is repeating, ** I will bring the blind by a way
that they knew not ; I will lead them in paths that they
have not known; I will make darkness light before them,
and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto
them, and not forsake them."

When the candidate has passed satisfactorily this queer
examination, he is brought to the altar, before which he is
made to kneel. While in this posture, the following oath
or obligation is solemnly administered to him, by the Grand
Master or his representative : —

*^ In the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of Grod, I now promise and
swear, truly, faithfully, and without reserve, that I will servQ^ the

276 HISTOBY OF THE SAINTS.

Lord with a perfect heart and a willing mind, dedicating myself^
wholly and unreseryedly, in my person and effects, to the upbuild-
ing of his ^kingdom on e'arth, according to his revealed will. I fur-
thermore promise and swear that I will regard the First President
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as the supreme
head of the Church on earth, and obey him the same as the Sor

never touch a daughter of */ldam, vuluss she is given me of thk
Lord. I furthermore promise and swear that no Gentile shall
ever be admitted to the secrets of this holy institution, or participate
m its blessings. I furthermore promise and swear that I will assist
the Daughter of Zion in the utter destruction of apostates, and that
I will assist in setting up the Kingdom of Daniel in these last days,
by the power of the Hignest and the sword of his might. I further-
more promise and swear that I will never communicate the secrets
of this degree to any person in the known world, except it be to a
true and lawful brother, binding myself under no less a penalty than
that of having melted lead poured into my ear. So help me God,
and keep me faithful r"

Joe pretends that God has revealed to him the real Mas-
tefs word which is here given to the candidate.

This obligation is varied in some cases, to suit the con-
venience or caprice of the Prophet ; but the foregoing is
the standard and usual form. It vt^ill be seen that it is
both blasphemous and treasonable, in the highest degree.
The candidate swears to obey the First President of the
Mormon Hierarchy, as the •* Supreme God, in all written
revelations ; " that is, if Joe Smith should have a " revela-
tion," commanding him to massacre the "Gentile" citizens
of Illinois, for example, or to overturn the Constitution of
the United States, the members of this precious "Order
Lodge" are bound and pledged, under the most heavy
penalties, to assist him in so doing ! If the contemptible
mummery of the affair did not render it a ridiculous farce,
it would merit, for its atrocity, the deepest execration of all
good men and patriotic citizens. Yet, silly as are its
ceremonies, this Order Lodge is not without a very strong
pernicious influence. Many of the members consider them-
selves solemnly bound, in the presence and by the sanction
of the Most High God, communicated to them by direct
inspiration through his Prdphet and representative,. Holy
Joe Smith, to execute, to the letter, whatever that inspired

i^

ORDEB. LODGE. 277

genius may take it into his head to command, whether it
be treason, murder, arson, or robbery.

When the oath has been administered, the candidate is
clothed with the robe of the order, and the precious oint-
ment, or consecrated oil, poured upon his head, till it runs
down upon his beard and the skirts of his garment.
Then the nature, authority, and privileges, of the Holy
Priesthood are explained to the candidate, together with
the ultimate fate of all Gentiles, (as they term those who
are not Mormons,) sectarian priests, apostates, and dis-
senters.

One of the most curious and ludicrous ceremonies,
connected with the initiation into Order Lodge, is this:
After the precious ointment has beeq poured upon the can-
didate, a hole is cut in the bosom of his shirt. (See plate.)
This shirt must never, on any account, be worn again,
but must be sacredly preserved, to keep the Destroying
Angel from them and their families. These shirts are
committed to the care of the wives of the members, and
none but them must touch them, or know of their exist-
ence. They believe that these shirts will preserve them
from death, and secure to them an earthly immortality :
but Bishop Vinson Knight, one of the members, has recently
died, so that it is evident the hole in his shirt could not
save him. Joe will probably, however, say that a spiritual
immortality only was promised.

The members of this lodge, in obedience to the above
obligation, have no scruple whatever in perjuring them-
selves, when required to do so by the Prophet, or when it
will conduce to the interest or advancement of the Holy
Mormon Church ; consequently they are the readiest and
most dangerous tools of the Impostor.

The Mormon system of theology recognizes three Gods ;
the first of which is God the Father ; the second is God
the Son, or Jesus Christ ; the third is God the Holy Ghost.
In Order Lodge these are all represented ; God the Father,
by Joe Smith ; God the Son, or Jesus Christ, by Hyrum
Smith ; and God the Holy Ghost, by George Miller. By
these precious divinities the candidate is initiated into the
higher mysteries of the Mormon Priesthood, of which all
that need here be said is, that they fit him admirably for
his holy work.

24

278 HISTORY OF THS SAINTS^

Order Lodge is of comparatively recent institution, and
embraces a considerable number of members.

MILKING THE GENTILES.

Milking the Gentiles is a kind of vernacular term of the
Mormons, and signifies the obtaining of money or property
from those who are not members of the Mormon Church,
(or are not attached to the Mormon confederation, or
government, as Jack Mormons,) by humbuggery, cajoling,
and false pretences, the levying of contributions, etc. etc.
Thus, when Joe is in want of funds for the Temple, Nau-
voo House, or private use, he commissions some of his
satellites of the illuminati, arms them with the parapegm
of the Church, instructs them in the various ramifications
of the fiscality, polity, and policy, of the confederation,
and sends them out, all panoplied with Mormon glory, to
milk the Gentiles ! Money is wanted to send out mission-
aries to convert the heathen in New England, Europe, or
the Holy Land of Palestine ; the Gentiles must be milked,
and the needful procured ! Funds are required to sustain
the Imperial Mormon Pontiff, and his Cabinet, in princely
magnificence and Oriental splendor ; to keep up the ex-
cellence and surpassing beauty of the harem and the upper
sanctuary; and to liquidate the pressing claims on the
government of the Empirfe ; — to milk the Gentiles is the
first expedient and the last resort, the Alpha and the
Omega of Mormon financiering. Sometimes they get
into tall clover, and the milk flows profusely ; at others,
the fare is but middling, — Pharaoh's lean kine eat up the
fatlings of the flock. Many of the poor Gentiles, however,
are soaped over, and swallowed so quick that salt can't
save them. They go to Nauvoo, Babylon and Mother of
Harlots, but the golden calf is not to be found there ! Jo-
seph has fled, Orin has gpne, and Willard, and Robert, and
Hosea, and Dimick, and Hyrum, have hung their harps
upon the willows, and refused to dance before the Lord
on the holy mount! Sic transit gloria mundif For a

ASSASSINATION AND ATTEHPTED ASSASSINATIONS. "279

more perfect, graphic, and interesting account of the milk'
ing of the Gentiles^ I beg leave to refer the reader to the
sermon on the milking oftlie goats, from the text, *^ And
thou shalt have goats* milk enough for thy food, for the
food of thy household, and for the maintenance of thy
maidens,^' (Prov. xxvii. 27,) by !Bishop Alexander Camp-
bell, of Virginia. He does it up in that inimitable style,
d la Campbell, that rivets the attention upon any thing*
(ailing from the lips or pen of that great man. Now, if
the Gentiles desire to be milked, the Mormon Elders are
the chaps that can do it, until they get goats' milk a plenty.
*' He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."

ASSASSINATION AND ATTEMPTED ASSAS-
SINATIONS.

MURDER OF MR. JOHN STEPHENSON.
From the Sangamo Journal of July 15, 1842.

««THE DANITES-POUL MURDER!

'' We copy t^e following from the Kaskaskia Republican. It has
long been understood that committees were sent about the country
from the establishment at N&uvoo, requiring the members of Joe
Smith's Chutch to pay ' tithes and onerings ' for the purpose of
building tiie Temple or Fortification at that place. The commands
of Joe m this particular are, we suppose, to be implicitly obeyed.
In the case before us, the individual who declined the order of Joe's
servants, paid the penalty of the refusal. His house was robbed,
and himself shot dead in his field I

" From the Kaskaskia RepuhUcan.

"* $200 Reward.

^^^ Murder most horrible! — One of the most horrid and atro-
cious murders was committed on the person of my brother, John
Stephenson, in Jackson county, Illinois, on the 2d day of June,
164^, perhaps, in the whole catalogue or annals of crime. All that
18 known of the circumstances attending the perpetration of the dark
and hellish deed is, that my brother was ploughing in the field, his
wife from home, and, no person being at the house, the foul fiend
entered the house, broke open his trunk in search of money, as is
Mipposed ; but as my brother had, bat four or five days previously^

280 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

been to the land-office and purchased land, there were but three dol-
lars in the trunk. The wretch then took the gun of the deceased,
and, from every appearance, concealed himself near the fence, and
awaited the approach of the deceased, and as he was turning round,
shot him down with his own gun.

^ ' The deceased was as harmless and quiet a man as ever lived ;
it is not known or believed that he had an enemy upon the earth.

" * Myself and deceased brother joined tlie Mormons some two years
since. On the 27th day of May, 1842, but six days before my brother
was murdered, Brown and Abbott, two Mormons, called upon us for
contributions of property and money to aid in building the Temple at
JVauvoo ; and, upon our refusal to give up to them the amount demand-
ed, the said two Mormons, by way of threatening us, said, we might
think ourselves well off if tee had our property long. They, the said
Mormons, further told us, that they had stock to drive, and had but
one dollar and twenty-five cents, and money they must have, let it
come from where it would ; and they did not care where it came
from ; they also said if we would take our money to Crow's, in the
six mile prairie, in Perry county, on the Saturday following, they
would receive it, and all should be right.

'^ ' It is impossible for suspicion to attach to an^ person not a Mor-
mon, in the neighborhood, as being concerned m the horrid dead ;
and it is believed, from all the circumstances, that the said two
Mormons are connected with the bloody and foul transaction.

" * The gun taken is a rifle, with a plain walnut stock, iron guard
and thimbles ; no other mounting ; the shot-bag is of wolf-skin ; and
the powder-horn had the name of Stephenson cut on it. There
was a large butcher-knife in the scabbard attached to the strap of
the shot-bag. The gun carries about sixty-five balls to the pound.
The murderers took from the trunk a large red morocco pocket-
book, with three dollars in specie ; one a Mexican dollar, which had
been tried at the land-office with aquafortis, and which made a
black spot on the impress of the head ; the rest of the' money was in
bits and quarters, with a hole in each piece.

" 'A reward of two hundred dollars will be given for the appre-
hension of the murderer or murderers.

*' * All papers friendly to the cause of right and justice will please
give the above one insertion in their columns.

"* Edward Stephenson.

** • Jackson County, IlliooiH, June 4, 1842.'

" We understand that this murder has produced great excitement
in the south part of the State. A fellow-citizen murdered because
he would not give up his property to a Mormon for the purpose of
building the Temple and Fort at Nauvoo ! What think you of this,
citizens of Ulinois? "

Will not the people of (he west open their eyes to their
imminent peril ? Will they suffer a community of murder-
ers to congregate their forces, and immolate those nearest
allied and most endeared to them by the ties of humanity
and consanguinity, without a murmur? Citizens, be

ASSASSINATION AND ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATIONS. 281

ready to put your armor on, and spread your banners on
the air! for if the battle must he fought^ I will lead you
on to glorious victory in this great moral struggl^j where
the cause of morality and true religion is bleeding at
every pore. Arise in the plenitude of your strength, and
assert your rights, and, in the name of the Lord God of
Israel, lay the rebels low ! Vox popuU vox Dei,

' THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF GOVERNOR BOGGS.

Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet, in a public congre-
gation in the city of Nauvoo, in the year 1841, prophesied
that Lilburn W. Boggs, Ex-Governor of Missouri, should
die by violent hands within a year. Mr. C. S. Hamilton,
of Carthage, Illinois, stated in my presence, and in the
presence of several other gentlemen, at the tavern-house
of Mr. R. L. Robertson, in Warsaw, Illinois, on Sunday,
the 10th day of July, 1842, that he was present, and heard
Smith make this prophecy. I was likewise present, and
heard it. . Smith was speaking of the Missouri difficulties
at the time, and said that the exterminator should be eX'
terminated, and that the Destroying Angel should do it
by the right hand of his power. **I say it," said he, ** in
the name of the Lord God ! "

In the spring of the year 1842, Smith offered a reward
of five hundred dollars to any man that would secretly assas-
sinate Governor Boggs. I heard the offer made at a meet-
ing of the Daughter op Zion, (J}anites,) in the Nauvoo
lodge-room, at which meeting several of the members
of the Destroying Angel (Destructives) were present.
As a member of the JFHrst Presidency, I had a right to be
present at all meetings of the various departments of the
Church, and witness their operations ; and, in this matter,-
as one of his councillors, I advised the Prophet to desist,
and abandon bis purposes in relation to Governor Boggs
and the Missourians. His reply was, " The Destroying
Angel mil do the work; when God speaks, his voice must
be obeyed" Mr. Jotham Clark, of Hancock county, Illi-

24*

282 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

nois, stated in Carthage, on the 6th of July, 1842, in the
presence of Dr. Thomas L. Barnes, Jonas Hobart, myself,
and others, that a Mr. Taylor, an English emigrant, told
him that he heard Smith make the same offer, (five hun-
dred dollars* for any man who would kill Governor Boggs,)
and that he (Taylor) had, in consequence thereof, aposto^
tized from the Mormon faith, and written home to his
friends in Europe, detailing the horrible facts. This was
in the early part of the spring of 1842.

Mr. O. P. Rockwell left Nauvoo from one to two months
prior to the attempted assassination of Governor Boggs,
and returned the day before the report reached there.
Colonel Francis M. Hicrbee told me, in Carthaore, in the
presence of General George W. Robinson, that Professor
Orson Pratt, and his wife, Sarah M. Pratt, told him, that
Mr. O. P. Rockwell, in a conversation with them, at Mr.
Pratt's residence, in Nauvoo, stated that he (Rockwell)
had been in Governor Boggs's neighborhood, in Missouri,
and had had the honor of standing on the corner of the
Temple lot in Independence, Mrs. Pratt told me the same
before I left Nauvoo, and that he (Rockwell) stated that he
came down the Missouri River to the Mississippi, thence
down to St. Louis, Missouri, thence up to Nauvoo, Illinois.

" The (Nauvoo^ Wasp," of May 28, A. D. 1842, a pa-
per edited by William Smith, one of the Twelve Mormon
Apostles, and brother of the Prophet, declared, " Who did
the NOBLE DEED remains to be pound out."

Some weeks afler Rockwell lefl Nauvoo, I asked Smith
where he had gone. ^^Gone?" said he; *^ gone^ to fulfil
PROPHECY," with a significant nod, giving me to under-
stand that he had gone to fulfil his prediction in relation
to the violent death of Governor Boggs. Soon after
Rockwell's return, Smith said to me, speaking of Gov-
ernor Boggs, ** The Destroying, Angel has done the work,
as I predicted, but Rockwell was not the man who shot ;
THK Angel did it." Rockwell is one of the Daughter
of ZioUy (a Danite,) but I do not think that he belongs to
the Destroying Angel.

On Friday, the Ist of July, 1842, I went to Carthage,
and on the 5th, I had a call from Mr. O. P. Rockwell, the
result of which is detailed in the following affidavits,
to wit : —

ASSASSINATION AND ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATIONS. 28?

" StaTK or iLLfJOIS, /

a-*

Hancock Countv, \

^ Personally appeared before me, Samuel Marshall, a Justice of
the Peace in and for said county, John G. Bennett, who, bein^ duly
sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, That on the 5th ot July,
1842, at the house of Mr. Hamilton, in Carthage, Mr. O. P. Rock-
well came to him and desired a private interview, to which depo-
nent replied, that if he (Rockwell) had any thin^ to say, he could
•peak it out before the gentlemen present. Rockwell said it was a
private matter which interested them only. Deponent then went
out with him. Rockwell said, ' Doctor, you do not know your
friends ; I am not your enemy, and I do not wish you to make use
of my name in your publications.' Deponent replied, that he recog-
nized Joe Smith and all his friends as his personal enemies j to
which Rockwell replied, ' I have been informed by Warner and
Davis that you said Smith gave me fifty dollars and a wagon for
shooting Boggs, and I can and will whip any man that will tell such
a cursed lie ; did you say so or not ? ' Aflber looking at him for a
moment or two, deponent said, ' I never said so, sir ; but 1 did say,
and I now say it to your face, that you left Nauvoo about two
months before the attempted assassination of Ex- Governor Boggs,
of Missouri, and returned the day before the report of his assal'ssma-
tion reached there ; and that two persons, in Nauvoo, told me that
you told them that you had been over the upper part of Missouri,
and in Boggs's neighborhood ; ' to which Rockwell replied, *■ Well,
I was there ; and ii I shot Boggs, they have got to prove it. I never
did an act in my life that I was ashamed of, and I do not fear to
go any where that I have ever been, for I have done nothing crimi-
nal.' Deponent replied, * Certainly they have got to prove it on
you, if you did shoot him ; 1 know nothing of what you didf as I
was not there. I only know the circumstancesy and from them I draw
my own inferences, and the public will theirs ; and now, sir, if either
you, or Joe Smith, think you can intimidate me by your threats,
you are mistaken in your man, and I wish you to understand, dis-
tinctly, that I am opposed to Joe and his holy host. I shall tell the
truth fearlessly, and regardless of consequences.' Rockwell replied,
* If you say that Joe Smith gave me nfly dollars and a wagon to
shoot Boggs, I can whip you, and will do it in any crowd.' Depo-
nent then said, ' Why are you harping on what I have not said ? I
have told you what I have said, to your face, and in the presence of
these gentlemen, and you have acknowledged the truth of all I have
said, and I shall say it again ; and if you wish to fight, I am ready
* for you.' The conversation then ceased on that subject. Rockwell
told deponent that he had been accused wrongfully of wishing to
assassinate him, or of being ordered by Smith to do so ; but depo-
nent said, *■ I believe that Joe ordered you to do it. I know that
orders went from him to the Danites for that purpose.' Rockwell
said that Smith had never given him any such orders, neither was it
his intention ; and further this deponent saith not.

— " John C. Benkett.

^* Sworn to, and subscribed, this 7th day of July, 1842, before me,
at my office, in Carthage.

" Samuel Marshall, Justice of the Peace.''

284 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

«* Stat* of iLLifiois, >
Hancock County, \

** Personallj appeared before me, Samuel Marshall, a Justice of
the Peace in and for said county, Clayton Tweed, who, bein^ duly
sworn according^ to law, deposeth and saith. That on the 5th day
of July, 1842, at the house of Mr. Hamilton, in Carthagre, Mr. O. r.
Rockwell came up to Greneral John C. Bennett, and said to him,
' I wish to have some private conversation with you ; will you come
out of doors with me ? ' To which Bennett replied, * No, sir ; if you
have any thing to say to me, speak it out before these genUemen.*
Rockwell then observed, ' It is a matter which interests you and
myself alone, and I should like much to see you a few minutes by
ourselves.' They then went out, and were some time in conversa-
tion, when loud words ensued, and deponent came up, much agitated,
fearing there would be a fight, and heard Bennett say, ' I now say
to your face what I said behind your back, — that you left Nauvoo
about two months before the attempted assassination of Ex- Governor
Boggs, of Missouri, and returned the day before the report of his
assassination reached there, and that two persons in Nauvoo told
me that you told them, that you had been over to the upper part of
Missouri, and in B^oggs's neighborhood;' to which Biockwell re-
plied, 'If I shot Boggs, they have got to prove it.' Bennett said,
* Certainly, they have got to prove it on you if you -did shoot him.
I know nothing of what you didj as I was not there. I only know
the circumstances^ and from them I draw my own inferences^ and
the public will theirs. And now, sir, if either you or Joe* Smith
think you can intimidate me by your threats, yoU are mistaken in
your man ; and I wish you to understand, distinctly, that I am op-
posed to Joe and his holy host, I shall tell the truth fearlessly, and
regardless of consequences.' Bennett further remarked, * Wny are
you harping about what I have not said ? I have told you what I
have said, to your face, and you have acknowledged the truth of it,
and I will say it again ; and if you wish to fight, I am now ready
for you; you will never have a better time. The conversation
then ceased, and the parties separated ; and further this deponent
saith not. Clayton Tweed.

" Sworn to, and subscribed, before me, this 7th day of July, 184S,
at my office, in Carthage.

*' Samuel Marshall, Justice of the Peace."

"Stat* of Tllixois, )
Hancock County, \

" Personally appeared before me, Samuel Marshall, a Justice of
the Peace in and for said county, J,onas Hobart, who, being duly
sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, That on the 5th day of
July, 1842, at uie tavern-house of Mr. Hamilton, in Carthage, he
came up to where Greneral John C. Bennett and Mr. O. P. Rock-
well were in angry conversation, when he heard Rockwell say, that
if any man said that Joe Smith hired him to shoot Boggrs, he stated
what was false. There was then some warm talk about f^hting.

ASSASSINATION AND ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATIONS. 285

and Bennett said, * I tell you, sir, to your face, what I have said be-
hind your ba^k, and if you are for fight, now is as good a time as
you will have.' Rockwell said he had been up into Boggs's
neighborhood, in Missouri ; and said he, * If I shot Boggs, they
have got to prove it.' Bennett said, ' Certainly they have ; I do
not know what you did; I only know the circumstances. I have
told them, and I have now told them to your face, and you have
acknowledged them ; and I shall tell them again, fearless of conse-
quences; ' and further deponent saith not.

" Jonas Hobart.

^' Sworn to, and subscribed, this 9th day of July, 1842, before me,
at my office, in Carthage.

*' Samusl Marshall, Justice of the Peace.**

"Statb or Illinois,
Hancock Couaty, j ®''

" Personally appeared before me, Samuel Marshall, Justioe of the
Peace in and for said county, John H. Lawton, who, being duly
sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, That on the 5th day of
July, 1842, he came up to where Greneral John C Bennett and O.
P. Rockw^ell were in conversation, at the house of Mr. Hamilton, in
Carthage, and heard Rockwell say that he had been up in Boggs's
neighborhood, in Missouri, and that if he had shot Boggs, they had
to p^ove it ; and then began to talk of whipping Bennett, whereupon
Bennett replied, * I have said nothing behind your back but what I
now say • to vour face, and if you wish to fight now, I am ready
for you.' Tne conversation then ceased, and the parties separated ;
and further this deponent saith not. ^ John U. Lawton.

** Sworn to, and subscribed, this 6th day of July, 1842, before me,
at my office, in Carthage. Samuel Marshall,

Justice of the Peace.**

I would further say, that before Rockwell left Nauvoo,
he was abjectly poor; but since his return, he left his
family in the lower part of the city, and took up his resi-
dence at the tavern of Captain Amos Davis ; has an ele-
gant carriage and horses at his disposal, and his pockets
filled with gold. Captain Davis can testify about this
matter. These horses and carriage belonged to Smith,
and the gold was furnished by him. Smith told me that
he furnished the carriage, horses, and gold sovereigns, to
Rockwell. But said he, '*It is to enable him to con-
vey passengers from the steamboats to the Temple and
back again ! " Bah ! My opinion is, that Smith procured

286 HISTORY or the saints.

the attempted assassination, (and of this I entertain no
doubt whatever ; I feel as certain of it as I do that I am a
living man ;) that Rockwell, as a member of the Daugh-
ter of Ziou, acted as the conductor or guide ; and that
one of the twelve composing the Destroying Angel, assist-
ed BY Rockwell, did the deed. This is the amount of
what I know in relation to this unfortunate transaction.
Joseph Smith is the man who should atone for the
ACT : — '* Nam scelus intra se taciturn qui cogitat uUum,
facti crimen hahetJ^ " For he who silently intends a
crime, has all the guilt of the deed." There are cases in
which, to resolve upon, and to commit a guilty act, are
equal in point of criminality, and this is one. From
what he said to me, it is evident that Smith knows both
of the actual perpetrators as well as the guide, and that
he directed the act, as in the case of Mr. Grandison
Newell, of Ohio, pretending it was the will of God. As
accessory before the fact. Smith had great fears of an ar-
rest; but said he, ** If Governor Reynolds demands, and
Governor Carlin delivers me up, they shall he smitten by
the Destroying Angel of the Lord^ like Herod, and die of
the scab." He said God intended to save him to chastise
this generation ; and that, like Mahomet, he would sway
an imperial sceptre over the nations of the earth, and that
Missouri should bow first to the rod of his power; for
sai4 he, " Thus saith the Lord God."

I have just received a letter from Joseph O. Boggs,
M. D., a very worthy and talented brother of Governor
Lilburn W. Boggs, from which I make the following ex-
tract : — -

"IiTDsrsifDENCE, Mo., September 12, 1843.

*' General John C Bennett :
*« Dear Sir, —

" We have now no doubt of the guilt of Smith and Rockwell.
Rockwell is known here, and was seen in Platte county for several
days preceding the shooting of my brother. When he was arrested,
he told the messenger that ne could prove that he was seven miles
north of Independence on the night that Governor B6ggs was shot.
This only confirms the suspicions agaipst him.

" Yours, respectfully,

»( Joseph O. Bogqs. '

ASSASSINATION AND ATT1SMPT£D ASSASSINATIONS. 387

Doctor Boggs judges correctly ; there can be no rea-
sonable doubt of their guilt. I am fully persuaded that
there were three men concerned in the murderous plot —
Joseph Smith, the instigator, and Orin Porter Rockwell,
of the Danites, and some one of the Destructives unknown
to me. That trio planned and executed that fell deed, as
far as it was consummated ; and nothing but fortuitous
circumstances, or the interposition of Divine Providence,
prevented the death of that worthy public functionary. In
obedience to the requisition made upon me, I shall imme-
diately repair to Independence, in the western confines of
Missouri, in order to bring the claims of the Mormon
Mahomet to public distinction to a speedy issue.

THE DURESS AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF

THE AUTHOR.

THE DURESS.

**On the 17th day of May, A. D. 1842, Joe Smith re-
quested to see me alone in the preparation room of
Nauvoo Lodge, U. D., on some important business. We
entered, and he locked the door^ put the hey in his pockety
DREW A PISTOL ON ME, and said, * The peace of my
family requires that you should sign an affidavit, and
make a statement before the next City Council, on the
19th, exonerating me from all participation whatever,
either directly or indirectly, in word or deed, in the ^spir-
itual WIFE DOCTRINE, or private intercourse with females
in general; and if .you do not do it with apparent cheer-
fulness, I will make cat-fish bait of you, or deliver you
over to the Danites for execution to-night ; for my dig'
nity and purity must and shall he maintained before the

public, EVEN AT THE EXPENSE OF LIFE. Will yOU do \ty

or die 1 ' I replied that he had better procure some other
person or persons to do so, as there were a plenty who
could do it in truth, * No,' said he, * that will not do ;
for it is known that you are well acquainted with all my
private acts, better thdn any other man; and it is in your
power to save me or damn me ; and as you have now with'

288 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

drcatnfrom the Church in an honorable manner, OYER
MY OWN SIGNATURE, — a privilege neyer granted to
any other person, — you must and shall place it out of your
power to injure me or the Churich. Do it, or the Mississip-
pi is your portion. Will you do it? ' I remarked that it
was a hard case, and that I would leave peaceably, and
without any public exposition, if he would excuse me. He
replied, * I tell you as I was once told, ** Your die is cast I
Your fate is fixed ! ! YOUR DOOM IS SEALED » ! ! '*
if you refuse. Will you do it, or die? ' I remarked that I
would, under the circumstances ^ but that it was hard, to
take the advantage of an unarmed man. * If you tell that
publicly,' said he, * death is your portion ; renumber the
Danites ! ' He then unlocked the door ; we went into
the room below, and I gave the affidavit as subscribed
befOTe General Daniel H. Wells, an Alderman of the city,
A Jack Mormon, ' who sold his birthright to Joe
FOR A MESS OF POTTAGE,' (who was then doing business
for the Saints in the lower room,) and made the statement
required before the City Council on the 19th. I was not
aware, until the Sunday after my return from Springfield,
that any other person was apprized of the fact of the threat
o/* MURDER ! ! But on that day, Colonel Francis M. Hig-
bee told me, in the presence of General George W. Rob-
inson, that HE WAS IN possession op a secret THAT

WOULD open THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE, and ih^i, if it came
to the worst, he would file his affidavit ; but he would not
then tell me what that secret was. General Robinson,
however, informed me afterwards that it was a knowledge
of Joe* s threats of murder and the duress. Accordingly,
on the 3()th of June, 1842, I called upon Colonel Higbee
for his affidavit, which was taken before General Hiram
Kimball, an Alderman of the city, and is in the words and
figures following, to wit : —

" * State OF Iluwoib, I
Hancock County, \

*' * Personally appeared before me, Hiram Kimball, an Alder-
man of the city of Nauvoo, Francis M. Hiffbee, who, being duly-
sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, That Joseph Smith
told him that John C. Bennett Could be easily put asidtf or
DROWNED, and 'no person toould be the wiser for it, and that it
OUGHT TO BE ATTENDED TO J and he further remarked that the

SOONER THIS WAS DONE THE BETTER FOR THE ChURCH, feat^

ingf <u he said, that Bennett toould make some diselasures prtjm^

I

I

ASSASSINATION AND ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATIONS. 289

dicidl to said Smith. This was about the time of Bennett's tDith"
Hrawtd from the Church, or a short time before ; and further this
deponent saith not. Francis M. Higbee.

*' *• Sworn to, and subscribed, this 30th day of June, A. D. 1842.

''' Hiram Kimball, Mderman.'*

" I now declare the foregoing statement to be true to the
letter ; and that my affidavit, taken before Daniel H. W^lls,
Esq., on the 17th of May, and my statement before the City
Council of Nauvoo, on the 19th, as published in * The
Wasp ' of the 25th of June, 1842, and in the * Times and
Seasons,' are false, and were taken under DURESS
as above stated, and are, therefore, destitute of moral or
legal obligation, John C. Bennett."

"Suffolk, i
September 13, 1842. j **'

*' Then personuly appeared the above-named John C. Bennett,

and made oath that the foregoing affidavit, by him subscribed, is true.

" Before me, Bradford Sumner, Justice of the Peace.'*

Thomas C. Sharp, Esq.,. editor of the " Warsaw Signal,'*
(a paper published in Hancock, the county of Smith's
residence,) in his paper of August 6, 1842, in speaking
on this subject, remarks —

" The testimony of Greneral Bennett, then, has force and ejffect,
when taken in connection with that of Dr. Avard, W. W. Phelps,
and others, as given before the Court of Inquiry in Missouri, and
the direct corroborations of Colonel Higbee and Miss Martha H.
Brotherton. All go to show the point arrived at, viz., that Joe Smith
is a most consummate viUain and knave.

" The second reason why we believe that Bennett does not speak
without reason, is the fear of exposure which Joe himself seemed
to manifest, on the withdrawal of Bennett from the Church. It
appears that he procured an affidavit from Bennett, stating that he
(omith) had never tauffht any thing wrong, either by word or act.
Now, we ask, why did ne want this affidavit ? If he was conscious
of having never taught nor acted contrary to the principles of honor,
honesty, and righteousness, where was the necessity of procuring
from Bennett an assurance of his purity ? The truth is, no explana-
tion can be given, other than this, — tliat Joe was fully aware that
Bennett was in possession of facts, which, if made public, would
bring infamy on himself and the Church. Hence hi« anxiety to
deprive Bennett of the power of doin^ injury, by procuring his
affidavit, and publishing it, together with a statement of Bennett's
character, before the latter had made any charge against him to the
world. His object, in this, evidently was to forestall public opinion,
by destroying the character of a man whose knowledge of his base-
ness, he knew, would render him dangerous. Nt>w, we ask, if Joe

25

290 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

was conscious of rectitude, why this anxiety to discredit Bennett,
before he had uttered a word to the public against him ? Innocent
men do not generally attempt to justify themselyes before they are
accused ; but Smith was industrious to stop the mouth of a witness
who, he alleged, knew nothing against him * "

THE ATTEMPTED MURDER.

In my comraunication to the Sangamo Journal of the
27th June, 1842, 1 stated that I had been threatened with
death by the Holy Joe and his Danite band of murderers,
in case I dare make any disclosures prejudicial to that pol-
luted mass of corruption, iniquity, and fraud, — that King
of Impostors, the holy and immaculate Joe Smith ; — and in
my communication of July 2d, I stated that, when on my
journey to Springfield, on my arrival in Carthage, I found,
as all the citizens well know, that I was followed by Mr.
O. P. Rockwell, a Danite, who, on his arrival late in the
night, made strict inquiries as to where I was. His osten-
sible business was to put a letter in the post-office ! Bah ! !
I was prepared for the gentleman, and he approached me
not; but another swift rider. Captain John D. Parker,
another Danite, followed me to Springfield, to carry a
Utter to Dr. Helm ! Ah ! Ha ! ! BAH ! ! ! I told Cap-
tain Parker that I was aware of his object, but I feared
him not. At Virginia, in Cass county, on my return,
Parker met me again, and I called the attention of the
stage-driver to him, who, thereupon, put two additional balls
into his pistol, and observed to me that he was then ready
for him or any other person having the same object in
view. On the 23d of June, 1842, the Holy Prophet, in
an article over his own name, published in " The (Nauvoo)
Wasp " of June 25th, threatened me with the vengeance
OF THE Lord, in the following language : " Unless he
[Bennett] is determined to bring sudden destruction
upon himself from the hand of the Almighty, [the
Destroying Angelyi he will be silent,*'

In order to fuljfil this prediction, on the evening of the
29th of June, the Destroying Angel approached my
boarding-house, (General Robinson's,) in Nauvoo, with
their carriage wheels wrapped with blankets, and their

ASSASSINATION AND ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATIONS. 291

horses' feet muiSled with cloths, to prevent noise, about
ten o'clock, for the purpose of conveying me off for
*' sudden destruction,^^ or assassination, so as to make me
*' silenty^ and thus prevent disclosures. Dead men tell no
tales ! But, as I had an intimation of the matter in the
afternoon, I borrowed two pistols of General Robinson,
and one of Mr. Hunter, a merchant, and loaded them with
slugs. Besides these, I had two good Bowie-knives, and
some of my friends were, likewise, well armed, — well
prepared to give the Angel a warm reception. So, after
prowling around the house (the lights in which were ex-
tinguished) for some time, the *' hand of the Almighty"
withdrew ! On the 6th of July, Mr. Jothani Clark told me
in Carthage, in the presence of Dr. Thomas L. Barnes and
Mr. Jonas Hobart, that he, having business near there,
came into town to tell me that the Mormons had threat-
ened my life, and warned me to be on my guard. This is
the treatment dissenters receive when they come out of the
modern Babylon, the mother of harlots, by the Saints op
THE Last Days. " Dii, talem avertite casum ! " " May
the gods avert so great a misfortune ! " General Wilson
Law, and another Danite, went on to Jefferson City in
order to blast my reputation, and prevent, if possible, the
issuing of a state writ by forestalling public opinion ; but
they were treated with that contempt which they so richly
merited at the hands of high-minded Missourians. Dr.
Foster, and five other Danites, followed me to New York
City, evidently for the purpose of assassination, as the
following affidavit will abundantly show : —

" Boston, SepUmber 12, 1843.
" To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN : —

" On Wednesday evening, August 31st, I attended the lectures of
General John C. Bennett, and Origen Bacheler, Esq., against Mor-
monism, (in the church, comer of Delancy and Christie Streets,
New York,) at the close of which the General was maliciously
attacked by a ruffian calling himself Dr. Robert D. Foster, a Danite
from Nauvoo, in company with some others of that band. After
learning that Foster and his companions were from Nauvoo, I
watched their movements ; and after the lights were extinguished,
and they had retired by themselves, I heard Foster say that he had
found Bennett by means of the New York Herald. One of the com-
pany then asked Foster when he intended to return to Nauvoo ; to
which he replied, as soon as he had settled Bennett! Foster

292 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

had a bold and unblushing female with him, whom I judged, from
appearances, to be one of bis spiritual vnves.

"J. W. Hallenbeck.

*' Sworn to, September 12th, 1842, before me,

" B. Sumner, Justice of the Peace.

Thus it is plain to be seen that as unprincipled a set of
ruffians as ever disgraced the earth, calling themselves
Saints, are in hot pursuit of me continually, for the pur-
pose OF SECRET MURDER ! 1 In my public lectures in New
York, I was assisted by Origen Bacheler, Esq., one of the
great champions of the Christian faith, by whom I was
probably saved from the assassin's steel. They seek my
life in order to save their Prophet — that Grand Tarta-
rean Hydra, whose face and hands are yet dripping with
the blood of murder — from reaping the reward of his ini-
quity, the just penalty of violated laws ; but they shall
yet " tremble at the hand- writing on the wall," and shout
Eureka from the port-holes of their holy Temple, on their
consecrated mount, within the confines of their delectable
city. For vengeance shall come like a rushing torrent
and a furious, beating tempest, and none shall be able to
deliver from under the arm of legal power ; for they shall
be driven like chaff before the wind, and consumed like
stubble before the devouring flame. Should I be sacri-
ficed or slain in the conflict, my blood would be avenged
by God and my country. . I never feared to die, but I did
not intend to sell my life cheaply until th6 world had the
truth of the Morpon organization before them in bold
relief. The issue is now made up ; " their die is cast,
their fate is fixed, their doom is sealed : " their temple will
be profaned, their altars desecrated, their city devastated,
their possessions confiscated, and their idols immolated ;
and reason, sober reason, will once more resume its em-
pire in the minds of the people, and folly, fraud, and
imposture, hide their hydra head. All honest individuals,
who have the requisite moral courage, will now cease to
worship the Mormon Baal, in the modern Babylon, and
will bow submissively before the Lord God of the Uni-
verse, renounce heathenism, and espouse Christianity.

CONTEMPLATED MORMON EMPIRE. 293

CONTEMPLATED MORMON EMPIRE.

In illustration of the plans and proceedings of Joe Smith
and the Mormons, it may not be amiss to give some descrip-
tive remarks upon the states which he designed as the seat
of his empire and dominion, and where he had begun to
establish his deluded followers, the destined instruments of
his treason and ambition.

According to the Mormon prophets, the whole region
of country between the Rocky Mountains and the Alle^
ghanies was, at a period about thirteen hundred years ago,
densely peopled by nations descended from a Jewish fam-
ily, who emigrated from Jerusalem in the time of the
prophet Jeremiah,. some six or seven hundred years before
Christ. Immense cities were founded, and sumptuous
edifices reared, and the whole land overspread with the
results of a high and extensive civilization. The Book of
Mormon speaks of cities with stupendous stone walls, and
of battles in which hundreds of thousands of men were
slain 1 The land afterwards became a waste, howling wilder-
ness, traversed by a few straggling bands or tribes of savages,
descended from a branch of the aforesaid Jewish family,
who, in consequence of their wickedness, had their com-
plexion changed from white to black, or rather dark red ;
but the emigrants from Europe, and their descendants,
having filled the land, and God having been pleased to
grant a revelation by which is made known the true his-
tory of the past in America, and the events which are
about to take place, he had also commanded the Saints of
the Latter Day to assemble themselves together there, and
occupy the land which was once held by the members of
the true church. The States of Missouri, and Illinois, and
the Territory of Iowa, are the regions to which the Prophet
has hitherto chiefly directed his schemes of aggrandize-
ment, and which were to form the nucleus of the great
MORMON EMPIRE. The remaining states were to
be licked up like salt, and fall into the immense labyrinth
of glorious prophetic dominion, like the defenceless lamb
before the mighty king of the forest I

25*

' 294 HISTORY OF THE SAINl'S.

Missouri. Boundaries and Extent, I shall here
quote from Bradford's Atlas, pp. 152 — 155.

^' Missouri, in point of dimensions, is the second State in the
Union, being inferior in extent only to Virginia ; it extends from
36<» to 40° 35' N. Lat., and from 89° 20' to OS® W. Lon., having an
area of about 68,500 square miles. Its boundaries, as fixed by the
Constitution, are a line drawn from a point in the middle of the Mis-
sissippi, in 36° N. Lat., to the St. Francois, then up that river to 36°
30', and along that parallel west to its intersection by a meridian line
passing through the mouth of the Kanzas ; thence the western boun-
dary was originally that meridian, but by act of Congress, in 1836,
the triangular tract between it and the Missouri, above the mouth
of the Kanzas, was annexed to the State; on the north, the parallel
of latitude which passes through the rapids of the River Desmoines,
forms the boundary between that river and the Missouri ; thence the
Desmoines and the Mississippi make the eastern boundary. The
corner between the Desmoines and the Mississippi, now in Wiscon-
,sin, will also, in all probability, be added to Missouri, as provision
has been made by the State for its annexation; whenever the consent
of Congress shall be obtained.

" Face of the Country. Soil. The surface of that portion of the
State which lies north of the Missouri is generally moderately undu-
lating, consisting of an agreeable interchange of gentle swells and
broad valleys, and rarely, though octsasionally, ruffged, or rising into
hills of much elevation. With the exception of narrow strips of
woodland along the watercourses, almost the whole of this region is
prairie, at least nine tenths being wholly destitute of trees. The
alluvial patches or river-bottoms are extensive, particularly on the
Missouri, and generally of prodigious fertility, and the soil of Ihe
upland is equal, if not superior, to that of any other upland tract of
equal extent in the United States. (Long's Expedition.) The
region south of the Missouri and west of the Osage, is of tlie same
description j [the Northern and Western Missouri country is most
felicitous and delightful, with a soil of inexhaustible fertility, and
a salubrious climate, rendering it a most desirable and pleasant res-
idence ;] but south-east of the latter river, the State is traversed
by numerous ridges of the Ozark Mountains, and the surface is here
highly broken and rugged. This mountainous tract has a breadth
of from 100 to 150 miles, but although it often shoots up into precip-
itous peaks, it is believed that tliey rarely exceed 2000 feet in height.
No accurate measurements of their elevation have, however, been
made, and little is known of the course and mutual relations of the
chains. The growth here is pitch pine, shrub oaks, cedar, &c., in-
dicative of the poverty of the soil ; m the uplands of the rest of the
State, hickory, post-oak, and white-oak, &c., are the prevailing
growth, ar^d m the river-bottoms, the cotton-tree, sycamore or but-
ton-wood, maple, ash, walnut, &c., predominate. The south-east-
em corner of the State, below Cape Girardeau^ and east of the
Black River, is a part of that great inundated region of which some
general account has already been given under the head of Arkansas ;

CONTEMPLATED MORMON EMPIRE. 295

a considerable proportion of this tract is^ indeed, above the reach of
the floods, bat these patches are isolated and inaccessible except by
boats, during the high stages of the water. It is asserted on the
authority of intelligent residents, that the bottoms of the St. Francis
were not subject to be overflowed previous to the earthquakes of
1811 and 1812, when an extensive tract in the valley of that river
sunk to a considerable depth. According to Stoddard, who knew
nothing of the shocks of 1811, earthquakes have been common here
from the first settlement of the country ; he himself experienced
several shocks at Kaskaskia in 1804, by which the soldiers stationed
there were aroused from sleep, and the buildings were much shaken
and disjointed ; and oscillations still occur with such frequency as to
be regarded with indiflerence by the inhabitants, who familiarly call
them shakes. But the agitations of December, January, and Feb-
ruary, 1811 and 1812, which were felt from New England to New
Orleans, are the only ones known to have left permanent traces on
the face of the earth, although there is every probability that this part
of the valley of the Mississippi has been much convulsed at former
periods. In 1812, the earth here opened in wide chasms, from which
columns of water and sand burst forth ; hills disappeared, and their
places were occupied by lakes ; the beds of lakes were raised, and
their waters flowed ofi", leaving them dry j the courses of the streams
were changed by the elevation of their beds and the falling in of Ihcir
banks j for one whole hour the current of the Mississippi was turned
backwards towards its source, until its accumulated waters were able
to break through the barrier that had danlmed them back ; boats were
dashed on the banks, or suddenly left high and dry in the deserted
channel, or hurried backwards and forwards with the eddying surges,
while in the midst of these awful changes, electric fires, accompanied
bv loud rumblings, flashed through the air, which was darkened by
clouds of vapor. In some places, submerged forests and cane-brakes
are still visible at a great depth on the bottom of lakes, which were then
formed. That the cause of these convulsions was not local, as some
have imagined, is evident enough from the fact, that the Azores, the
West India Islands, and the northern coast of South America, were
unusually agitated at the same time, and the cities of Caraccas, La-
guayra, and others on the last, were totally destroyed. {Memoirs of
Am. Acad. Vol. III. Ex. Doc. \st Sess. 2ith Cong. Vol. I. Doc. 11.
Sen. Doc. same Session, Doc, 113. Long's Expedition to the Rocky
MountainSy Vol. II. 325.)

" Rivers. Missouri is abundantly supplied with navigable chan-
nels, affording easy access to all parts of the State. The Mississippi
washes the eastern border, through a distance of about 470 miles by
the windings of the stream. Above St. Genevieve, it flows for the
most part between high and abrupt cliffs of limestone, rising to an
elevation of from 100 to 400 feet above the surface of the river,
sometimes separated from it by bottoms of greater or less width, and
at others springing up abruptly from the water's edge. A few miles
below Cape Girardeau, and about 35 miles above the mouth of the
Ohio, are the rocky ledges called the Little and Grand Chain; and
about half way between that point and St. Genevieve, is the Grand
Tower, one of the wonders of the Mississippi ; it is a stupendous pile

}

296 HISTOBT OF THE SAINTS.

of rocks of a conical form, about 150 feet high and 100 feet in circum-
ference at its base, rising up out of the bed of the river. ' It seems,
in connection with the rocky shores on either side, to have opposed,
at some former period, a barrier to the progress of the Mississippi,
which must here have had a perpendicular fall of more than 100
feet.' (Schoolcraft, Lead Mines.) Colonel Long refers the posi-
tion of this now obliterated cataract to the Grand Chain. The
Srincipal tributaries of the Mississippi, with the exception of the
lissouri, are the Desmoines, Wyaconda, Fabius, Salt, and Copper
River, above that great stream, and the Merrimac, St. Francis, and
White River below, the two last passing into Arkansas. Desmoines,
which is only a boundary stream, is navigable 170 miles, and Salt
River, whose northern sources are in Wisconsin, and southern in
Boone county, and which takes its name from the salt licks or salines
on its borders, may be navigated by small steamboats to Flor-
ida, 85 miles. The Riviere au Cuivre, or Copper River, is also a
navigable stream, but the navigation of all these rivers is interrapted
by ice in winter, and by slioals and bars in the dry season. The
Merrimac, or Merameg, has a course of 250 miles, but is navigable
only about 50 miles, except in the highest stages of the water. The
Bourbeuse, or Muddy River, Big River, and Fourche k Courtois, are
its tributaries. The St. Fran9ois, or Francis, is a much more consid-
erable river, but its navigation is interrupted by several rafts or jams
of drifl-wood, and at the Spread its waters are dissipated into so many
channels, that it is difHcult to find one which may be navigated ; but
these obstructions will soon be removed, and the river will then be
navigable by steamboats to Greenville. The Black River, after
having received the Current, Eleven Points, and Spring Rivers,
enters the White River in Arkansas. That ffreat stream sweeps
round into the south-western part of this State, &om which it receives
several large streams, and further west are the tributaries of the
Neosho.

^^ The Missouri flows through the State for a distance of about 600
miles, but although steamboats have ascended it 2500 miles from its
mouth, its navigation is rendered difficult and dangerous by sand-
bars, falling banks, snags, and a shifting channel, and is only practi-
cable about four months in the year, being interrupted by ice in
winter and by the shoals in summer. It is below the mouth of the
Platte, not far above the northern line of Missouri, that it fissumes
the turbulent and turbid character which it imparts to the Missis-
sippi. To the distance of about 400 miles from its mouth its banks
are clothed with trees, but beyond this the country is almost entirely
unwooded, even on its borders. The Nishnabottana, Nodawa, Little
Platte, Grand River, and Chariton, considerable streams rising in
Wisconsin, are the principal tributaries from the north, and the
Lamine, Osage, and Gasconade, from the south. The Osage is the
most important of these rivers; it rises in the Indian Territory, and
flows through some of the most fertile lands in Missouri for a dis-
tance, by its windings, of nearly 600 miles ; it is navigable for
steamboats to the mouth of the Sac, about 200 miles, and to the
western frontier by large keel boats. The Sac, Pomme de Terre,
Niangua, and Grand River, its tributaries, are navigable streams.

CONTEMPLATED MORMON EMPIRE. . 297

The Gasconade rises in the mountainous tract near the heads of the
tributaries of White River, and has a course of about 250 miles ; it is
navigable upwards of 100 miles.

^''Mmerals. Perhaps no region in the world surpasses Missouri
in the variety and abundance of its mineral resources ; to inexhaust-
ible stores of lead and iron, coal and salt, are to be added zinc, man-
ganese, antimony, plumbago, iron pyrites, arsenic, and copper,
nitrous and aluminous earth, potter's clay, marble, freestone, and
granite, sulphuretted and thermal waters, &c., and according to
some accounts, indications of silver and cobalt occur. The geologi-
cal features of the country, notwithstanding several partial explora-
tions, have been imperfectly examined ; but generally speaking,' the
prevailing rocks are carboniferous limestones and saliferous sand-
stones ; the Ozark Mountains appear to consist mainly of masses of
intrusive rocks, granite, sienite, porphyry, &c., and of altered lime-
stones and sandstones. The repository of the lead-ore, which is ga-
lena or sulphnret of lead, is ma^nesian limestone, but the limits and ex-
tent of the galeniferous region nave never been ascertained ; the ore is
known to \^ abundant, not only in the counties of Washington, JeiSer-
Bon, St. Francis, St. Genevieve, Madison, and the contiguous districts,
usually called the lead region, and the seat of the oldest and most
extensive diggings, but also in several counties west of the Osage,
as Morgan and Cole, and in several north of the Missouri; and uie
Wisconsin mines are in the same rock. Operations were commenced
here by the French as early as 1720, but were suspended about twenty
years later, and were not again carried on with much activity until
after the cession of Louisiana to the United States. The processes
have been of the rudest sort; wherever indications of the mineral, as
the ^ena is called by the miners, appear on the surface, an excava-
tion nas been commenced, and the whole surface of the ground has
been cut out into pits of various si^es, from three or four to twenty
feet in diameter, and from ten to fifteen feet in depth, the digging being
abandoned as soon as the depth renders it inconvenient to throw out
the earth, or to hoist out the mineral by a simple windlass and bucket ;
blasting is also resorted to when a rich vein is struck in the metallif-
erous rock, but much of the ore is found loose in alluvial deposits, in
lumps of various sizes. In a large way, it yields from 80 to 85 per
cent, of pure metal, but by more careful processes might be made to
give considerably more. The annual produce of the Missouri dig-
gings is at present about 7,000,000 pounds, a portion of which is
manufactured into shot and sheet lead. Previous to 1836, the land
was the property of the United States, and was leased to individuals
for short terms of time, which led to wasteful and extravagant modes
of working the mines ; but in that year the mineral lands were sold,
and some attempts have already oeen made, by some of the pro-
prietors, to introduce the scientific processes practised in Europe.
(Schoolcrafl, Lead Mines of Missouri. Featherstonhaugh, Geolop.cal
Heport on the ELevaied Country between the Missouri and Red Rivers.
Franklin Journal^ Vol. XXI. Wetmore, Gazetteer of Missouri.)

** Iron-ore is found in numerous localities, but we have no partic-
ular account of its character and quantity, except in the case of the

298

'HISTOBT OF THE SAINTS.

enormous masses in Madison and Washington counties. The Iron
Mountains of this district, which have lately attracted the attention
of capitalists, are thus described by Professor Shepard, who visited
them in 1837 : *The Pilot Knob and the Iron Mountain are lofty
peaks in this hilly range, the former about 600 feet high and three
miles in circuit, and the latter 350 feet in height with a circuit
of about two miles. The Pilot Knob may be denominated a fer-
ruginous porphyry, or an aggregate of feldspar and specular iron, the
latter occurring of a fine (steel-grained) granular structure, and con-
taining imbedded crystals and round grains of feldspar, while the
Iron Mountain is a homogeneous deposit of pure, massive specular
iron, containing only in a few exceedingly rare cases single crystals
of fbldspar. We have, then, in this extraordinary region, in the first
place, hills many hundred feet hiffh, composed entirety of a compact,
cherry-red feldspar, variegated with veins of black by oxide of iron ;
in the second place, the Pilot Knob, a mountain made up in large
proportion of specular iron, the feldspar oflen scarcely exceeding the
ore with which it is mixed ; and lastly, the Iron Mountain, in which
the whole mass is so nearly pure ore, that the observer is forced to
search with the closest scrutiny to detect in it even a few solitary-
crystals of feldspar. In oiSering a statement respecting the extent
and richness of the ore, I hesitate not to say, that it surpasses, for
quantity and quality, every thing before known in the metallic his-
tory of our earth.' (Shepard, Report on the Missouri Iron Mountains,
1838. Prospectus of the Missouri Iron Company.) Although cop-
per and silver are known to exist, and have been successfully worked,
we have no definite account of the situation and extent of the ores.
Bituminous coal is found in almost every county, except in the min-
eral district, and the beds are said to be of great extent and of easy
access. Salt-springs are numerous, but little attention is paid to the
manufacture or salt."

Counties, Population, and County Towns.

Counties.

Audrain,

Barry,

Benton,

Boone,

Buchanan,

Caldwell,

Callaway,

Cape Girardeau,.

Carroll,

Chariton,

Clark,

Clay,

Clinton,

Cole,

Cooper,

CenaoB of 1840

•

Whites.

Free
Col'd.

2

Slaves.

Total
Pop.

1,752

195

1,949

4,518

8

269

4,795

3,933

261

4,205

10,529

24

3,008

13,561

6,004

6

227

6,237

1,397

61

1,458

8,601

:22

3,142

11,765

8,020

14

1,325

9,359

2,155

268

2,423

3,709

20

1,017

4,746

2,423

3

420

2,846

6,373

34

1,875

8,282

2,530

3

191

2,724

8,073

34

1,179

9,286

8,312

15

2,157

- 10,484

Ck)onty Towns.

Benton C. H.
Columbia.

Fulton.
Jackson. ~
CarroUton.
Keytesville.

Liberty.
Plattsburg.
Jefferson Citt.
Booneville.

COItTEHPLATSD HORHOIT EHPIBE. ^

300 HISTORT OF THE SAINTS.

Jefferson City, (a beautiful and commanding place,)
the seat of government, is situated near the geographical
centre of the State, and is destined for future greatness.

Independence, in Jackson county, as remarked else-
where, which is situated in the very heart of this delightful,
fertile, and healthy country, is considered their Zion, or
haven of ultimate repose; but as it is not a commercial
mart, St. Louis has been designated as their great empo-
rium — the Joppa to their Jerusalem. St. Louis is situated
on the west bank of the Mississippi, ** 17 miles below the
mouth of the Missouri, 175 miles above the mouth of the
Ohio, 1350 from the Gulf of Mexico, 860 below the Falls
of St. Anthony, 850 by the post foutes from Washington,
and 1200 from Santa Fe by way of Independence."
The advantages of this situation are but beginning to be
appreciated. From its position, St. Louis commands the
internal trade of one half the North American continent,
and will, undoubtedly, at no distant period, be one of the
largest cities of the world ; placed as it is in the centre of
a most fertile, salubrious, and delightful country, with the
mighty Mississippi stretching hundreds of miles upon each
side of it, and the no less colossal Missouri emptying its
thousand leagues of waters at the very doors of its citizens,
and with two other great rivers, the Ohio and the Illinois,
bringing it the tribute of their navigable waters. The lat-
ter river will, also, by its union with Lake Michigan by
a canal, bring to St.- Louis the commerce of the vast coun-
tries which stretch north of the great lakes, and also that
of a large portion of their shores. I cannot but admire
the judgment with which the Mormon leaders selected this,
the very heart of North America, as the chief seat of their
vast empire. Could they have succeeded in erecting there
an independent military organization, they would have
been able to control, in time, almost the whole continent.
But Providence, which, for its own wise, though inscruta-
ble purposes, permitted them to proceed, for a season, un-
checked in their audacious career, has at length interposed,
and will scatter them and their wild, Utopian schemes,
like the sand of the desert before the blast of the furious
tornado.

" Productive Industry. The vast prairies of which the greater part
of Missouri is composed, furnish admirable natural pastures for the

CONTEMPLATED MORMON EMPIRE. 301

^ve stock of the new comers, and grazing has, therefore, formed an
important branch of agricultural industry in this State. Black cattle,
horses, and hogs, are raised in great numbers for exportation. * The
business of rearing cattle is almost reduced to the simple operation
of turning them out upon the prairies, and letting them fatten until
the owners think proper to claim the tribute of their flesh.' Salted
beef, tallow, hides, pork, and live stock, are important articles of
export ; the number of hogs slaughtered for exportation in 1836, is
stated at nearly 100,000. (Western Address Directory,) Cotton is
raised in tlie southern part of the State, but not in considerable

?uantities; tobacco is more extensively grown, and hemp, wheat,
ndian corn, and other cereals are cultivated with success. The
only mineral which has been much worked is lead, which is in part
exported in pigs, and in part manufactured into sheet lead and shot.
But the beds of coal and lime, the profusion and good quality of the
iron-ore, and the heavy cost of transportinfir iron from the sea to these
remote regions, will soon make that metal one of the most valuable
products of the State. Some lumber, furs, and skins, are procured
from Missouri, but most of the last-named are now brought from
beyond her borders. The Santa F^ trade employs several hundred
men, with 40 or 50 wagons, and the caravans bring home specie,
wool, and mules, in return for powder, rifles, knives, cotton and
woollen goods, &c."

Hygiene. — Persons removing to the west should, par-
ticularly during their acclimatement, wear flannel next the
skin, avoid the heavy dews and fogs, and make free use of
the Tomato, (which is one of the very best alteratives and
deobstruents known to the Materia Medica — possessing,
in an eminent degree, the virtues of calomel divested of the
deleterious qualities,) by which they will, in most cases,
avoid all those harassing bilious affections, and obstruc-
tions, to which unacclimated persons are so frequently
subjected. The west, in many parts,, is as healthy as any
other portion of the globe ; but in all migratory operations,
a certain acclimation has to be passed through, in which,
however, with proper care, there is no danger whatever.
In the Great West, the seat of this contemplated vast
Western Empire, the water is pure, the land fertile, the
climate salubrious, and the beauty of the scenery un»
surpassed — presenting at once the ne plus ultra of
an earthly Elysium.

Illinois and Iowa. These extensive regions of coun-
try, of superior excellence and surpassing beauty, are not
very dissimilar to the State already described, and were to
form the remaining portion of the vast domain of the nu-

26

SOS HISTORT OF THE SAINTS.

deus before which nations^ kingdoms, and empires, were to
fall. As the great plot and league is now fully before
the nation, and as my limits will not allow me to prosecute
the subject further in this Expose, I will close this chapter
with the single remark, that the public weal requires the
vigilant eye of the body politic to look well to the
west!

AN APPEAL TO THE PUBUC.

I have elsewhere shown the danger that menaces our
civil and political institutions from the machinations of
the Mormon Impostor, and I now wish to appeal to the
feelings and the fears of the Christian community, and to
urge all good and religious men to unite their efforts
for the purpose of checking and suppressing this Monster
in his career of wickedness and blasphemy. The developn
ments I have made, and the documents I have produced,
are surely sufficient to convince every man of sense and
foresight, that Joe Smith meditates the total overthrow, not
only of our government and of our social fabric, but of all
creeds and religions that are not in perfect accordance
with his own bloody and stupid imposture. The course
he has hitherto pursued, particularly in Missouri, shows
clearly as the noonday sun, that, had he but the power, he
does not lack the will, to propagate his doctrines by the
cannon and the bayonet. The Mormons, as soon as they
acquired a majority, would proceed to exterminate, or con-
vert forcibly, all those, whether Christians or Heathens,
whom they style Gentiles, in distinction from their saintly
selves. Even were this not to be inferred from their
present conduct, we could readily foretell it from the ex-
perience of the course of such fanatics afforded us by
history.

The dreadful atrocities perpetrated by the Jews when
they rose to follow the numerous pretended Messiahs who
have appeared since Christ, are well known to ev^ry reader,
as also are the miserable" calamities which befell the He-

AN APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC. 303

brew nation in conseqaence of their infatuation after these
Tillahoas impostors.

When Barchochebas, or, as he styled himself, the Son of
a Star, had caused an insurrection against the Romans,
the Jews, believing him to be their long-promised Savior,
flocked to his standard in immense numbers, and for a long
time defied the whole power of the Roman empire, and
treated with the most abominable cruelty those of the
Gentiles who fell into their hands. They slaughtered, in
Ihe course of their rebellion, not less than one hundred
thousand Roman citizens, and they were themselves finally
subdued only by the sacrifice of more than half a million
of lives.

In the fiflh century appeared another of these pretenders
to the Messiahship, who, in the Island of Candia, so grossly
deluded his countrymen^ that hundreds threw themselves,
at his command, into the sea, because he had promised to
conduct them safely through it to the Promised Land.

In the sixth century appeared one named Julian, who^
after a long and bloody war, was captured by the generals
of Justinian, and put to death, together with his chief
adherents.

In 1157, Spain was very much disturbed by another,
tirho so excited against himself the anger of the .Mo-
hammedans, that nearly all the Jews in Granada were
massacred for supporting him in his insane pretensions.

Towards the close of the twdfth century, also, there
arose, in the province of Hamadan, in Persia, an impostor
of no common quality, the famous David El David, or,
as he is often termed, David Alroy. He defeated, in
several sanguinary battles, the sultans of Roum and of
Persia, overthrew the army of the caliph, and even cap-
tured Bagdad, the capital of the Mohammedan empire,
where he reigned for some time in great splendor, and was
finally captured and killed by Alp Arskn, king of Karasme.
His career, which caused the almost entire destruction
of the flourishing Jewish communities in the neighborhood
of the Tigris and Euphrates, has been made the subject
of a most splendid and eloquent work, by the younger
lyisraeli.

It is worthy of remark that all these, and scores of other

304 HISTORY OF 7HE SAINTS.

Jewish impostorB, pretended, as Joe Smith now does, that
they were raised up of God to fulfi} the ancient prophecies,
and restore the Jews to their Promised Land. Like Smith,
they based their claims on a literal interpretation of propb^
ecy, found manifold te^ts as explicit as the Mormon wall,
the stick of Ephraim, the flying angel, and the others
alleged in favor of the Mormon pretended revelation.
They added miracles and prodigies wherever they were
wanted, and found dupes enough to believe and run after
them, and sacrifice all earthly good to their preposterous
claims, as the Mormons now do to the claims of Smith.*

But the most striking historical parallel to the course of
the Mormons, and one, too, from which Smith and his com-
rades have derived the ideas of many of their proceedings,
is contained in the career of the Anab.aptists.

They appeared in the year 1525, in Germany, duringr
the religious excitement and confusion produced by the
attempts of Luther and his coadjutors to reform the Papacy.
They so remarkably resembled the Mormons, that it is
quite evident the latter have taken them for models, and
have copied their doings with as much accuracy as the
spirit of the age would permit. The first leader of the
Anabaptists was a low, ignorant fellow, named Thomas
Munster, who, like Joe Smith, was at the same time their
prophet and military commander. They, precisely again
like the Mormons, gave themselves out for '* Latter Day
Saints" and professed to be chosen by the Almighty as
instruments to produce the promised millennium reign of
Christ on earth. They believed, likewise, that they were
especial favorites of Heaven in every respect, and that they
were, when they wished it, favored with familiar personal
intercourse with the Deity, and from him constantly re*
ceived revelations and instructions. They also believed
that their faith rendered them invulnerable to the assaults
of their enemies, and that, like the Hebrew leaders of old,
they were empowered to confound and to overthrow, by
the most stupendous miracles, the adversaries of the Lord
and of his church. They also pretended to have frequent
visions of all kinds, and related most wonderful tales of
their interviews and combats with evil spirits. They also,

Prof. Tamer.

AN APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC. 305

like the Mormons, indulged their fancies in prophesying
the most horrid calamities to their enemies, and the greatest
convulsions in the natural and political world. Such was
their enthusiastic zeal, that they soon excited the peasants
and ignorant classes of Germany to a pitch of fanaticism
unequalled in human history since the days of Mahomet.
Their leader, Munster, at length asserted that God had
commanded him to resort to arms, in order more speedily
to bring about the millennium and the reign of Christ and
his saints on the earth !

Accordingly he armed and assembled a vast multitude
of his followers, composed altogether of the brutalized
peasants of Germany, in whom ages of political and reli-
gious oppression had almost extinguished the last vestige of
resemblance to Him in whose image they were created at
the beginning, and proclaiming himself King of Zion,
began to plunder and devastate the towns and castles of
Germany, and to slaughter, in the most cruel manner, the
classes who, still retaining their senses, endeavored to check
his enormities. At length he was met in battle by the
imperial forces, and was defeated and captured, afler five
thousand of his deluded followers had been slain, and the
rest routed. Munster was, as he richly deserved, publicly
executed soon after he was taken prisoner;

This defeat, and the death of their prophet and general,
though it checked for a time the career of these fanatics,
did not entirely suppress their zeal or their outrages. A
few years afterwards, they, by divine revelation, as they pre-
tended, placed John Matthias at their head, who, bent on
following out the plans of the martyred Munster, issued a
proclamation in the style of those so profusely given to the
world by Joe Smith, commanding the saints to assemble
at the New Zion, which Matthias declared was the city of
Munster. He pretended that God would from thence
enable them so to extend their power, that all the kings of
the earth would submit to the dominion of the prophet,
and the whole world be conquered by his holy legions.
They proceeded in good earnest to .carry their insane
plans into effect, and, afler committing numberless atro-
cities, were besieged by the civil autAorities, and, after a
long and terrible siege, during which they defended them-

26*

1

306 . HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

selves with the greatest resolution, Mount Zion was taken
by storm, and the German Joe Smith, with upwards of a
hundred thousand of his adherents, was put to the sword.

It is unnecessary to do more than to allude to the well-
known history of Mahomet, who, fatally for mankind,
was enabled to carry out, to the fullest extent, schemes
similar to those attempted by the persons I have mentioned
above. There is no doubt that Joe Smith would, if he
possessed the capacity, imitate the great Arabian impostor,
even in his wars and conquests.

And now, my fellow-citizens, permit me to appeal to you
again and again, on this most momentous subject, and
urge you, in the name of all that you hold dear and sacred,
to spare no efforts to put down this hydra-headed monster
of Mormonism, before it swallows up all that is valuable to
you in this life or in the next. Unite yourselves, and stand
not idly by, suffering a few zealous individuals to fight, sin-
gle-handed, the battles of humanity and religion.

If this Mormon villain is suffered to carry Out his plans,
I warn the people of these United States, that less than
twenty years will see them involved in a civil war of the
most formidable character. They will have to encounter
a numerous and ferocious enemy, excited to the utmost by
fanaticism and by pretended revelations from God, and
led on by reckless, ambitious, and, in some respects, able
scoundrels, who will not pause' in the execution of their
projects, even though to accomplish them they should
deluge this fair land with the blood of her sons, and exter-
minate the results of the toil and the civilization of more
than two centuries. I know that these, things are so. I
know that the Mormon leaders entertain these designs,
and I know the strength and the force that a few more
years of impunity will enable them to bring to the accom-
plishment of their treasonable projects. In proof of what
I now assert, I appeal with confidence to the documents
and testimony contained in this volume, and I ask
every patriotic and religious citizen to examine it carefully
and dispassionately, and then say if my statements are
not supported as strongly as those of any man need be.
And yet what I hav6 given is not a tithe of what might be
brought forward upon the subject, had I but the time

EXTRACTS FROM A MISSOURI DOCUMENT. 307

to gather it. What I here present has been collected in
haste, and in a part of the Union distant from that in which
knowledge relating to Mormonism can be most readily ob-
tained. Many persons, upon whom I relied for evidence,
and who live in the Holy City, have been deterred by
threats and apprehensions from testifying, though, as this
work will show, many others have nobly come forward, and
with great moral courage have stated what they know.

It is to vigorous and united effort that we must look for
the final suppression of Mormonism ; and the citizen and
the Christian is highly culpable, who stands by in apathy,
and, with folded arms, coolly looks upon the progress of a
system that will eventually destroy, if not timely checked,
our religion and our liberties, and involve us and our
country in the most direful and irretrievable calamities.

The Mormons, strong already in their numbers and their
zeal, are increasing like the rolling snowball, and will
eventually fall with the force of an avalanche upon the fair
fabric of our institutions, unless the people, roused to
resist their villany, quit the forum for the field, and, meet-
ing the Mormons with their own arms, crush the reptile
before it has grown powerful enough to sting them to the
death.

EXTRACTS FROM A DOCUMENT

PUBLISHED BY^ORDER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

«

OF MISSOURL*

EXTRACT FROM GOVERNOR BOGGS'S MESSAGE OF 1840.

^^ Since your last session,' the unpleasant difficulties between a
portion of the citizens of our State and the Mormons have entirely
subsided, with the exception of some slight interruptions on our north-
eastern border. After that infatuated and deluded sect had lefl our
State, they industriously propa^ted throughout tlie Union the most
exaggerated details of our difficulties, and the foulest calumnies
affamst our citizens. In some of our eastern cities, missionaries of
their creed were employed, daily making converts to their cause by

308 RiSTOET OF THE SAINTS.

proolaiming the cruelties which they alleged they had endured at
the hands of our authorities. The report of our alleged barbarities
has not been confined to our Union, but even at this day in Europe
they are made the groundwork of proselyting, and their orators find
it to their interest to distort the acts into a persecution, which, in
every religious excitement that has marked the history of the earth,
has always been found the most efiectual weapon of conversion.

** In all intestine commotions, particularly when mingled with re-
ligious fervor, it freqilently happens that cases occur of peculiar
hardship and unusual distress, and when public sympathy is excited
in their behalf, these unavoidable consequences o€ civil dissension
may easily be magnified into barbarous cruelty. That such cases
arose in tne course of the difficulty, I do not doubt. But they must
be attributed to the excited nature of the contest of the parties, and
not to any desire, on the part of our constituted authorities, to wilfully
or cruelly oppress them.

" These people had violated the laws of the land by open and
avowed resistance to them ; they had undertaken, without the aid
of the civil authority, to redress their real or fancied grievances ;
they had instituted among themselves a government of their own,
independent of and in opposition to the government of this State ;
they had, at an inclement season of the year, driven the inhabitants
of an entire county from their homes, ravaged their crops, and de-
stroyed their dwelhngs. Under tiiese circumstances, it became the
imperious duty of the Executive to interpose and exercise the pow-
ers with which he was invested, to protect the lives and property of
our citizens, to restore order and tranquillity to the country, and
maintain the supremacy of our laws.

" We owe to our reputation, both at home and abroad, the duty
of cleansing every aspersion that may rest upon it. Our State char-
acter should be held equally as dear as our individual reputation,
and we should use the same exertion in maintaining the one as
spotless as the other. Full testimony as to all the necessary facts
of that controversy has been preserved or can easily be procured.
Written evidence, on both sides, has been filed among the papers of
your last session, and forms part also of the records of several of your
courts. The facts, as they occurred, can be presented to the world
upon proof perfectly conclusive, and the reputation of our -State can
be rescued from reproach by an exposition of the true causes and
events of these difficultiesr

^* In recommending the publication of this testimony, I have no
care about its effect upon the principles of that sect. Our constitu-
tion has given us the high privilege of religious independence, a:nd
lefl the worship of the Supreme to the unfettered will of every mem-
ber of the community. If true, the creed of that sect will ultimately
triumph 3 if false, it will * die amidst its worshippers.' To explain
the attitude which we have been made to assume, I would recom-
mend the publication of all the evidence relating to the occurrence,
and distributing the same to the chief authorities of each State "

EXTRACTS FROM A MISSOURI DOCUMENT. 309

TESTIMONY ACCOMPANYING THE MESSAGE.
•Affidavit of Mam Blacks

^ Statu or Missouri, )
" County of Daviess, \ '

" Before me, William Dryden, one of the Justices of the
Peace of said county, personally came Adam Black, who, being
duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, that on or
about the 8th day of August, 1838, in the county of Daviess,
there came an armed force of men, said to be 154, to the best
of my information, and surrounded his house and family, and threat-
ened him with instant death if he did not sign a certam instrument
of writing, binding himself, as a Justice of the Peace for said county
of Daviess, not to molest the people called Mormons, and threatened
the lives of myself and other individuals, and did say they intended
to make every ciUzen si^n such obligation,, and further said they
intended to have satisfaction for abuse they had received on Monday
previous, and they would not submit to the laws. * * *

^^Adam Black.

** Sworn to and subscribed this 28th day of August, 1838.

" W. Drtden, Justice of the P$ace .

D, Ashby and Others to the Governor,

"Bhunswicx, SeptemUr 1, 1836.

^ His Excellency Lilburn W. Boogs :

«» Dear Sir,—

'* Our country is in a complete ferment, and our families are
rendered daily unhappy in consequence of the reports which are con-
stantly coming in concerning the hostile intentions of the Mormons
and their allies, as it is currently reported and believed that they
have ingratiated themselves with the Indians, and indeed they say
so, to assist them in their diaholical career,

** The fears of the people are greatly excited, and nothing is now
talked of but the contemplated struggle, and plans seem to oe devis-
ing all around us for the most efficient protection a^nst their
encroachments. A deadly hostility is kept constantly alive on their
borders, and our old neighbors and friends are petitioning help from
abroad to relieve them m their present difficulties. Bemg remote
&om the immediate vicinity of the Mormon troubles, we can give
but little of authentic data on which to act ; but we are strongly of
opinion that there is a deeply-laid scheme existing among these fanat-
ics', that will be highly destructive to character^ and at once sttbver-
sive of the rights and liberties of the people.

" We have the best authority for believing that, in their public
teachings, their people are taught to believe and expect that im-
mense numbers of Indians, of various tribes, are onfy waiting the
signal for a general rise, when, as they state it, the *• Flying or
Destroying Angel ' will go through the land, and work the general

310 ' HISTORT OF THE SAINTS.

destruction of all that are not Mormons. It is not our object at the
present to trouble you with a detail of all the reports in reference to
this affair ; but we will state a case within our own knowledge, com •
ing from a man who left this neighborhood to join the Mormons,
and who has the reputation, among the citizens of Chariton county,
for a number of years, of being a man of strict veracity. He has
returned perfectly satisfied that their object is every thmg opposite
to Christian feeling and principle. The following statement which
he makes, is given at his own request, and under nis own hand : —
* I have resided among the people called Mormons about five
months, during which time I have had frequent opportunities of
meeting with them, both in their public and mrivate associations,
and have sought every possible opportuni^^ or acquiring informa-
tion. I distinctly recollect hearing Joseph Smith, the Prophet, state,
in a public discourse, that he had fourteen thottsand men, not belong-
ing to Oie Church, ready at a moment's warning, which was gener-
alfy underst6od to mean Indians. It was a very common-source of
rejoicing among all classes, even the women and children partici-
pating, that the time had arrived when all the wicked should be
destroyed from the face of the earth, and that the Indians should be
the prmcipal means by which this object should be accomplished.
There is a conunon feeling amongst them, amounting to a conspira-
cy to protect ons another against me civil officers of the country, even

IF IT SHOULD BE ATTENDED WITH DEATH. The pubUc teachorS

have recently been very urgent in soliciting the people to fly to
their towns mr protection, as the time had arrived when the. * Flying
Angel * should pass through the land, accompanied by the Indians,
to accomplish the work oi destruction, and furthermore stating that
they will have enough to do to protect themselves while this work
is going on. Na'i;han Marsh.'

** From the above facts, added to the general reports, we have,
with all due consideration, thought proper to suggest to your Excel-
lency the propriety of issuing orders to the militia, so that in case of
necessity they may be called on according to the exigency of cir-
cumstances.

'^ Tour obedient servants, - Daniel Ashbt,

James Kette,
Sterling Price.**

Tht Clerk of (he drcwi Court of Carroll County to the Governor,

** Carxollton, Mimouri, September 6, 1838.

" Hon. L. W. Bogos, Governor of Missouri.
**Sir,—

" I am requested by the Committee of Safety appointed
for Carroll county, to forward to your Honor a copy of an affidavit
made by John N. Sapp, the contents of which, they have every rea-

EXTRACTS FRO^ ▲ MISSOURI DOCUMENT. ' 311

■on%> believe, are true ; they vnsh your Honor, if you should con-
sider the same advisable, to acquaint the Indian a^nts on our fron-
tier with that port of the affidavit which relates to the Indians.

*^ I have the honor to be,

" With ffreat respect,

" X our obedient servant,

('Joseph Dickson.
** * Stats of Missouri, )
County of Cairoll. )

<* ' I, John N. Sapp, do solemnly swear that 1 resided in Daviess
county, State aforesaid, for about the space of five months, and was
a member of the Church of the people styled Mormons, and that 1
left them about the 15th day of August last by stealth. When 1
left them, they (said peo{>le styled Mormons) were building block-
houses, and calculated this fall to build fortifications for the pro-
tection of themselves and families in time of war, for which they
were making every arrangement; and the understanding is, that
each man has to cultivate one acre of land, and if the produce raised
on said acre is not sufficient for their mainteinance, and that of their
families, they are to take the balance from the Missourians, (thereby
meaning the people of other denominations;) and I do further say
there are betwixt eight and ten hundred men, well armed and
equipped, who have tULen an oath to support Joseph Smith and Lyman
Wignt, in opposition to the laws of the State of Missouri, or other-
wise, which said men are called Daniteb ; and 1 was a member of
said body of Danites, and have taken the above oath ; and I do fur-
ther say, I have heard Lyman Wight say, l^ey had twelve men,
[the Destrotino Angel,] of their Church, among the Indians,
and that their object was to induce the Indians to join them (the said
Mormons) in making war upon the Missourians, and they expected
to be fully prepared to commence war this fidl, or next sprmg at
furthest. And I also say, the Danites aforesaid are sworn to coid-
hide any person or persons toko may say aught against Joseph Smith '
and Lyman Wigkt^ and if that will not prevent mem from speaking
about said Smim and^Wight, then they are to assassinate them.

his
"*JoHN N. M Sapp.
mark.

" ^ Subscribed and sworn to before me, Joseph Dickson, Clerk of
the County Court, within and for the county of Carroll, State of
Missouri, on the 4th of September, 1838,

"* Joseph Dickson, CZerA.*"

Statemevd of WiUiam Dryden,

«' To His Excellency L. W. Boggs,

Governor of the State of Missouri:

^ Tour petitioner, William Dryden, an acting Justice of the Peace,
within and for Daviess county, would respectfiilly represent, that
the counties of Daviess, Caldwell, and Livingston, are settled, in

31$^ HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

part, by a denomination of people called Mormons. These Mor-
mons, to the number of about fiueen hundred men, have associated
themselves togetlier, and have resisted, and do resist with force of
arms, legal process against persons belonging to their denomination.
Your petitioner further states, that on the ^th day of August last

{>ast, Adam Black appeared before me, and made oath, that A. Rip-
ey, G. A. Smith, and others, had been guiltjr of a high offence,
known to the law, in substance, as follows, to wit : That on or about
the 8th day of August, 1838, in Daviess county, there came an
armed force to his (Black's) house, in said county, among whom,
the said Ripley, Smith, and other persons named in said affidavit,
were a part, and then and there, with deadly weapons, made an
assault upon him, (the said Black,) and then and there threatened
him (Black, who was tljen an acting Justice of the Peace, within
and for Daviess county aforesaid) wiu instant deathf if he did not
sign a certain instrument of writing, binding himself, as a Justice of
the Peace of said county of Daviess, not to molest the people called
Mormons, and threatened, the lives of himself (the said Black) and
others, and said they intended to make every citizen of said county
sign such obligation, &c.

" Your petitioner further states, that he immediately issued a writ,
pursuant to law, for the arrest of the said A. Ripley, G. A. Smith,
and others, commanding the officer, intrusted with the execution of
said writ, after the arrest, to bring the bodies of the persons therein
named forthwith before your petitioner, to answer the complaint,
and further to be dealt with according to law. There being no con-
stable within the township of which I am justice, he havmg been
driven from the county by and through fear of the Mormons, and
your petitioner behoving that said writ would not be executed,
unless a special deputy was made for that purpose, your 'petitioner,
then and there, appointed Nathaniel H. Blakely a special deputj,
to serve said writ, and said appointment was endorsed on said writ,
and signed by myself officially, and then and there delivered to the
said Blakely. Your petitioner further states that the said Blakely
took the said writ, and summoned a guard, consisting of ten men,
who went in search of the persons named in said writ, for the pur-
pose of executing said writ , but the said constable returned, that the
persons named in said writ were not found in said county, by reason
of himself and guard having been driven, by force, from the town,
in said county, in which me offenders were supposed there to be.
The said affidavit, writ, and return, are herewith respectfully sub-
mitted to your Excellency.

" Your petitioner further believes and represents, that the Mor-
mons are so numerous, and so well armed, within the limits of the
counties of Caldwell and Daviess, that the judicial power of the
counties is wholly unable to execute any dvU or criminal process
within the limits of either of said counties, against a Mormon or
Mormons,, as they, each and every one of them, act in concert, and
outnumber the other citizens. They also declare that they are m-
dependenty and your petitioner veril;^ believes that the Mormons
hmd in utter contempt the institutions of the country in which
they Uve.

EXTRACTS FROM A MiSSOVU ]X>C0MENT« 819

*^ Tour petitioner ftarther lejnesentB, some time about the 8th of
September last, that three individoals were arrested by the said
Mormons, in Caldwell county, and held in custody, and your pe-
titioner represents that he believes they are still in con&iement«
without any warrant of law. Tour petitioner further represents that
he verily bielieves that no civil officer of the State could cause to be
executed any legal process within either of said counties of Caldwell
or Daviess.

•♦ Your petitioner, therefore, respectfully prays your Excellency
to furnish the civil officers, within and for the counties of Daviess
and Caldwell, a sufficient number of troops to enable them to exe-
cute the laws of the land, and bring the offenders, aforesaid, to
justice. To this end your petitioner will ever pray, &c.

** William Drtdxn,

^* Justice ef the Petbce, Daviess County.
"Sqrten^lS, 1838."

Statement qf C, Jackson and Others,

•* Camp ivkar Db Witt, October 7, 1838.

'* To the Citizens of Howard County :

" Gentlemen, —

^ This county is the theatre of a civil war,* and will soon
be one of desolation, unless the citizens of the adjoining counties
lend immediate assistance. The infatuated Mormons have assem-
bled in large numbers in De Witt, prepared for war, and are contin-
ually pouring in from all quarters where these detestable fanatics
resiae.

" The war is communced! blood has been shed^^they shed it ; they
waylaid and fired upon a body of the citizens of Carroll county, and
wounded some. TAey are the aggressors — they have been guilty
of high treason ; they have violated the laiDS^ and shed the blood of
our citizens ; and we think this one of the cases of emergency in
which the people ought to take the execution of justice in weir own
hands. Speeciy action is necessary ; the proves of their imposition^
insult, tLna oppressioni ought to be checked m the beginning. The
people must act together — they must act energetically.

** It is now 12 o'clock at night — the Mormons are lurking around
our camp, and making preparations to attack us before day. Our
numbers are much less than theirs, and we will have to act on the
defensive, until we procure more assistance. About two hours ago,
the Mormons were reenforced by sixty-two mounted men, well
armed, from Far West; they are arrivinffevery nisht; two nights
affo, it IS thought one hundred came to De Witt, for the purpose
of making war upon the people of this county.

**^ Under such circumstances, you cannot nil to come forward im-
mediately. Can you not be here by Sunday or Monday at furthest ?
Come by fives and tens, if you cannot come by companies ; bring all
you can. This is no &lse excitement or idle rumor — it is the cold
reality, too rfial We will anticipate you immedi«li»ly, and shall ex-

27

314 HIdTOET OF THE SAINTS.

pect yoar cooperation and assistance in expelling the iknatics, who
are mostly aliens l^ birth, and aliens in principle from the county.
We must be enemies to the common enemies of our laws, religion^
and country.

" Your friends and fellow-citizens,

" CoNGRAVE Jackson, John L. Tomlin,

" Larkin K. Woods, Sidney S. Woods,

" Thomas Jackson, Geo. Grigler,

"RoLLA M. Daviess, Wm. L. Banks,

" James Jackson, Jr., Whitfield Dicken.
" Johnson Jackson,

'* P. S. Our guard was just now fired upon by the Mormons.
They have become imboldened by their recent reinforcements, and
we will have to act on the defensive, until assistance arrives."

Affidavit of Philip Covington,

•* Stats of Missouri^ )
County of Daviess, \

" I, Philip Covington,, an acting Justice of the Peace within and
for said county, do certify, that on the 18th inst., one hundred or
more Mormons marched to Gallatin, and drove the citizens from said
place, then robbed the store and post-office, and burned said store
and office. On the 20th of this inst., twenty-five armed Mormons
came to my house, and gave me orders to leave the county a^inst
next mominff, or they would be upon me and my family. Mh^selfy
with manv oUier citizens, have left the county. They are now rob-
bing and burning the dwellings of the defenceless citizens.

* Given under my hand, this 22d day of September, 1838.

" Philip Covin«ton, J. P."

Colonel Peniston to the Govemcrr.

"Daviess County,. Missouri, Oeto&er SI, 1838*

To His Excellency the Governor of Missouri :

" Sir,—

" I deem it my duty, made so not only from the law as an
officer, but also as an individual, to report and make known to jova
Excellency the unheard-of and unprecedented conduct and high-
handed proceedings of the Mormons of this and Caldwell counties,
towards the other citizens of this county, being myself one of the
sufferers.

" On Mondav, the 15th inst., we learned that the Mormons were
coUectinff in Far West, for the purpose of driving what they term
the mob trom this county, by which we understand the citizens that
were not Mormons; and accordingly they have come, and our
worst apprehensions have been already fuuilled. They have plun-
dered or robbed and burned every house in Gallatin, our county
■eat, among the rest our post-office ; have driven almost every indi-

EXXBACTS F^OSf A BH^SOOHI DOCUMENT. 315

vidiia) ^^ the county, who are now flying before thepi with -their
families, many of whom have been forced out loUfunU necesaory
clothing; thsir wivbs and little children wading, in many

INSTANCES, THROUGH THE SNOW WITHOUT A SHOE ! ! ! When the

miserable families are thus forced out, their houses are plundered and
burned; they are making this universjJ throughout tie county.
They have burned for me two houses ; and, sir, think this not ex-
aggeration, /or aU is not told ; and for the truth of all and every state-
ment here made, I pledge the honor of an officer and gentleman.

" These facts are made known to you, sir, hoping that your
authority will be used to stop the course of this banditti of Canadian
i^fugees, and restore us to Our lost homes. I neglected to state that,
among the rest, our County Treasurer's office has been also burned.
i will cmly ask, in conclusion, can such proceedings be submitted to
in a government of laws ? I think not, and must answer my inter-
rogatory — No, notwithstanding the political juggling of such men as

and some others, whose reports and circulations,

setting the conduct and character of the Mormons favorably before
the communitv, are believed by the people of this county to be
prompted by the hope of interest or emolument.

**! am yours, sir,

" With due regard,

" Wm. p. Peniston,
Col. 60«A Iteg. 2d Brig. 3d Dip. Mo. Mi.

** P. S. Since writing the above, I have procured the testimony,
on oath, of some six or eight persons, corroborating my statement,
which accompanies this. ^^y^ P P "

Affidavit of Samuel Venable,

^' This is to certify that I was called upon last niffht to wait upon
a lady who was about to increase her family ; she had travelled, as
she told me, about eight miles in labor, to get from the Mormons,
who were engaged in driving off the people from their homes, giving
them only about three days' notice, plundering and robbing their
houses. The lady alluded to above, Mrs. Smith by name, stopped
on the camp ground on the east of Daviess county, where she in-
creased her family. There was another lady who stopped on the
camp ground, whose baby toas but four days old.

^* I was also at Mr. White's this morning, who .lives in Livingston
ooun^, who was on yesterday venr much injured in property by
the Mormons. 1 saw a good deal oi the mischief by them done, and
was told by Mrs. White that, in addition to the above, she received
&om them invectives; that they had plundered the house, taken
doths^ and other articles ; destroyed all their bee-stands ; taken off
draaeing ehains^ hv chains^ &c. The quantity of oate, fodder^ and
rom. taken. from Wnite's must have been considerable, as they fed
about tioo hundred horses, leaving on the ground where tliey fed
a ^eat deal of pats, &c. Given under .my nand, this 22d October,
1^8. Samuel Venable.

316 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

** I certify that the aboye is a true copV of the instrument ^iven,
•worn to, and subBcribed before me on sSd of this instant, this fiSd
October, 1838. Leti F. Gaben, J. P."

CiJtizens of Ray County to the Governor.

*< RicRMOND, Missoari, Oetcher 93, 1836.

" To the Goyemor of the State of Missouri:

"Sir,—

" The alarming state of Daviess county, and the panic
produced by the late movements of the Mormons in that county^
have produced a degree of excitement and alarm here, that has
not been heretofore witnessed. The latest accounts from Daviess
county that have reached us, say that all the inhabitants of Daviess
county have left, and sought refuge in Livingston or this county.
The storehouse of Jacob Stollings, in Gallatin, was robbed and
burned by the Mormons ', the post-office kept there was also de-
stroyed, and we believe that the houses of five or six of the inhabitants
of Daviess have been destroyed by fire, the property taken away,
and the women and children obliged to flee. The arms of all the
citizens in Daviess, thev could find, have been taken by them
forcibly ; they have earned away the cannon firom Livingston coun-
ty, and have it now in their possession.

** The Mormons have robbed George Worthington, post-master,
at Gallatin, of his notes and property, to the amottnt of nearly ^^2000.
In short, the news from them reaches us hourly, that they are de-
stroying the property of the citizens they cannot carry away, and
all tnat they can carry away, they take. Blood and plunder appear
to be their object, and those who do not join with them in tneir
incendiary conduct, are banished from Caldwell, and all those of
other counties who are opposed to them, are threatened. It is the
desire of the citizens that nis Excellency would visit this section of
country, and call out a sufficient number of troops to put a stop to
the ftirther ravages of these fanatics. If some such measures are
not taken shortly, the whole country will be overrun. We now
firmly believe they are aggressors, taia atiy they will indemnify them-
selves for losses in Jackson and Carroll. We are ^ot alarmists, and
have had no fears, until lately, that these fanatics would have dared to
behave as they have lately. There seems to be but one opinion here
on the subject, and that is, unless a military force is brought to act
against them, and that shortly, they will destroy as far as they av«
able. We think it our duty to advise you of these things.

" Vefj respectfully,
*^ R. S. Mitchell, M. r. Loiro,

" John N. Hughes, James S. Bell,

"Thos. McKinnxt, B. J. Browit, Sheriff

'^ Jesse Comer, George Woodward,

•* T. L. D. W. Shaw, Lewis S. Jacobs,
'* G. Lefhart, Berrt Huoes,

<* John C. Richardsok, Wm. Hudgihs, P. M.

EXTRACTS FBOH A MKSOIXBI ;J>OCUMENT. .317

** We me deficient in anas ; if there are any to spare, we wish them
brought up here* Wm. Hudoins.^'

7. C Bvrch to the Govtmor,

"Richmond, Missouri, October 93, 1838.

*^ To His Excellency the Goyernor of Missouri :

** The Mormon difficulties are arising, and have arisen
here to an alarming height. It is said (and I believe truly) that
they have recently robbed and burned the storehouse of Mr. J. Stol-
linffs, in €rallatin, Daviess county, and that they have humed sev-
eral dwelling-houses of the citizens of Daviess, taken their arms from
them, and have taken some provisions.

'* Mormon dissenters are daily flying to this county for refuge
. from the ferocity of the Prophet Joe Smith, who, they say, threat-
ens the lives of ail Mormons who refuse to take up arms at his
bidding, or to do his commands. Those dissenters (and they are
numerous) all confirm the reports concerning the Danite Band^ of
which you have doubtless heard much, and say that Joe infuses
into the minds of his followers a spirit cf insuboraination to the laws
of the land, telling them that the kingdom of the Lord is come,
which is superior to the institutions of the earth, and encourages
them to fight, and promises them the spoils of the battles.

'^ A respectable gentleman of my acquaintance, from Livingston,
is here now, who informs me that the Mormons are robbing the clti-
xens of Livingston, on the borders of Caldwell, of their corn and what-
ever else they want ^ that they have taken a cannon from Livingston
county, and are prowling about the country, a regularly-formed
handiUi, That the Prophet Joe Smith has persuaded his Church,
that they are not, and ought not to be, amenable to the laws of the
luid, and is still doin^ it, I have no doubt. The Danite Band, as I
am informed by nunibers of the most respectable of the Mormons,
(who are now dissenters,) binds them to support the High Council
of the Mormon Church and one another in all things, whether right
or wrong, and that even by false swearing. I have taken much
pains to be informed correctly about this Danite Band, and I am
well satisfied that my information, as above stated, is correct. I have
no doubt but that Joe Smith is as lawless and consummate a scoun-
drel, as ever was the Veiled Prophet of Khorassan. I believe the
criminal law in Caldwell county cannot be enforced upon a Mormon.
Grand juries there will not indict. Joe declares, in his public
addresses, that he can revolutionize the United States, and that if
provoked he will do it. This declaration has been heard by Colonel
Williams of this place, and other gentlemen of equal veracity. I
have hoped that the civil authority would prove sufficient for the
exigency of the case, but I am now convinced that it is not, so lone
as indictments have to be found by a jury of the county in which
the offence may be committed.

^^ I do not pretend to have wisdom enough to make a suggestion
as to what your Excellency should do. The evil is alarminff,

27*

318 HiSTOBY or THK SAINTS.

beyond all doubt. 1 luggest the foregoing ftoti for your eon-
nderation.

** I am, very respectfally,

^< Tour obedient servant,

« Thos. C. Bubch.

*^ P. S. Judge King will give you some information by the next

T. C. B.'*

mail

Htm. Jt, JL King to the Governor.

" RicHMoifD, Oa»ber d4, 1838.
"Dear Sir,—

^* As Mr. Williams will be to see you in reference
to our Mormon difficulties, and will be able to say all to you, per-
haps, that can be said, 1 deem it a duty, notwithstanding, to give you
■uch information as I have sought and obtained, and it is such that
I assure you may be relied on.

'^ Our relations with the Mormons are such that I am perfectly
satisfied the arm of the civil authority is too weak to give peace to
the country. Until lately, I thought the Mormons were disposed to
act only on the defensive ; but their recent conduct shows that thsy
▲RE THE AGOKE8SOR8, and that they intend to take the law into
their own hands. Of their recent outrages in Daviess countv, you
have doubtlessly heard much already ; of their course of conduct in
Daviess, I will give you the general ^ts, tor to give particulars
would far transcend tne limits of a letter.

*^ On Sunday, before they marched to Daviess, Joe Smith made
known his views to the people, and declared the time had come
when they would avenge their own wrongs, and that all who was
not for them, and take up arms with them, should be considered
against them ; that their property should be confiscated, and their
lives also be forfeited. With this declaration, and much else said
by Smith, calculated to excite the people present, the next day was
set to meet and see who was for them and who against them, and
under such severe penalties there was none, that I learn, who did not
turn out, and about three or four hundred men, with Smith at their
head, marched to Daviess; this was on Tuesday; the next da^
was the snow-storm, and upon Thursday thejr commenced their
ravages upon the citizens, drvomg Hum from their houses and taking
their property. Between eighty and one hundred men went to
Crallatio, pillaged houses, and the store of Mr. StoUings, and the post*
office, and then burned the houses ; they carried off the spoils on horse-
back and in wagons, and now have them, I understand, in a storehouse
near their camp. Houses have been robbed of their contents, beds,
clothing, furniture, &e., and all deposited, and they term it a eoA-
MscnUion to the Lord. At this time there is not a citisen in Daviess
except Mormons. Many have been driven without warniuff;
others have been allowed a few hours to start. The stock of the
citizens have been seized upon, IdUed and salted vp by hundreds.
From fifty to one hundred toagons are now employea in hauling in
the earn from the surrounding country* They look for a mroe

EXTRACTS FROM A MISSOUBI DOCUMENT. 319

aoaiiift them, and are conaeqiieiitly piefMring for « siege, bnildi»ff
block-houses, &c. They have lately organized themselves into a bano^
of what they call DanUes^ and sworn to support their leading men
in all they say and do, f^kt or wrongs and further to pvl to instant
death those who will betray them. There is another band, of twdve,
called the Destructiyss, whose duty it is to watch the moTements
of men, and of committees, and to avenge themselves for supposed
wrongful movements against them, by privately burning houses,
property, and even laying in ashes towns, &c.

*^ I find I am runnin|r out my letter too much in detail ; I do not
deem it necessary to give you a minute detail of all the facts of
which I am possessed, 4>nt I give you the above in order that you
may form some idea of the disposition of these people. The Mor-
. mons expect to settle the afiOiir at the point of the sword, and I am
.well warranted in saying to you that the people in this quarter of the
State look to you for that protection which they believe you will afford
when you have learned the facts. I do not pretend to advise your
course, nor make any suggestions other than what I have stated, —
that it is utterly useless ror the civil authorities to pretend to inter-
pose. The countrv is in great commotion, and I can assure you that,
«ither with or without authority, something will shortly have to be
done.

*' I hope you will let me hear from you by the return of Mr. Wil-
liams, and if you should come up the country shortly, it will give
me pleasure to take the trouble to see you.

" I am, very respectfully,

" Austin A. King."

M^ifidavU of Thomas B. March,

** At the request of a committee of the citizens of Ray county, 1
make the following statement in relation to the recent movements,
plans, and intentions, of the Mormons in the counties of Caldwell
Jand Daviess : —

*^ Shortly after the settlement of the difficulties at De Witt, in Car-
roll county, a call was made by the Mormons at Far West, in Cald-
well county, for volunteers co ffo to Daviess county to disperse the
mob, as they said. On the day oefore this, Joseph smith, the Proph-
et, had preached, in which lie said, that all the Mormons who refus(pd
to take up arms, if necessary, in difficulties with the citizens, should
he shoty or otherwise put to death ; and as I was there with my family,
I thought it most prudent to go, and did go, with my wagon, as the
driver. We marched to Adam-on-diahmon, and found no troops or mob
in Daviess county. Scouting parties frequently went out, ana brought
in intelligence that they had seen from three to five hundred men.
We got to 'Diahmon on Tuesday evening, and on the next day a
company of about eighty of the Mormons, commanded by a man
fictitiously named Captain Fearnought, marched to Gallatin. They
returned, and said they had run on from Gallatin twenty or thirty
men, and had taken Gallatin, — had taken one prisoner, and another
had joined the company. I afterwards learned fVom the Mormons
that they had burnt Gallatin, and that it was done by the aforesaid

390 HISTOaT OI* THE SAINTS.

company that maiehed theie. The Moksumib iafoisned me that liiejr
had nsiuled away all the goods firom the store in Gallatin, and depo**
ited them at the Biriiop^ storehoasea at 'I>iahmon. On the aame
day, Lyman Wisht marched about eighty horsemen for Millpcnrt.
He returned beiore night, and caUed tor Joseph Smith and Hjrrom
Smith, to report to them, (said Hyrom being counsellor of said Joseph
the Prophet,) and said Wight reported that he had been in sisht oi
Millport — saw no one to fight — but tiiat the people general^ had
£one and left their houses and property. The Prophet, on hear-
mg the property was left, commenced a reply, and said, * We had
better see to it,' when Wight stopped him by saying, *■ Never mind,
we will have a private council ; ' and Smith replied, * Very well.*
The ivivate council 1 did not hear. The men were determined to
go to their camps. The same evening, a number of footmen came
up from the direction of Millport, laden with property, which I was
informed consisted of beds, clocks, and other household furniture.
The same night, 1 think, about three wagons were despatched for
about forty bee-gums, and the next day f saw several ffums, when
they were splitting them up, and taking the honey and burning the
gums, in which business of taking out the honey, but few were
engaged, for fear, as they said, they would be called on as witnesses
afainst them. When Wight returned from Millport, and informed
Smith that the people were sone and the property left, Smith asked
him if they had left any of me negroes for themj; and Wight replied,
* No ; ' upon which some one laugbed, and said to Smith, *■ You kavB
lost your negro then.* During the same time, a company, called the
Fur Company, were sent out to bring in fat hogs and cattle, calling
the hogs BEARS, and the cattle buffaloes, [and the honey sw^eet oil —
BEAR MEAT, BUFFALO, and SWEET OIL — pretty good living !] They
brought in at one time seven cattle, and at another time, rour or five,
belonging to the people of Daviess. Hogs were brought in dead, but I
know not how manv ; I saw only two. They have among them a com-
TOUiy consisting of all that are considered true Mormons, called the
bANiTES, who have taken an oath to support the heads of the Church
in all things, that they say or do, whether right or wrong. Many,
however, of this band are much dissatisfied with this oath, as being
against moral and religious principles. On Saturday last, I am in-
formed by the Mormons that they had a meeting at Far West, at
which they appointed a company of twelve, by the name of the
Destruction Company, for the purpose of bummg and destroying ;
and that if the people of Buncombe came to do mischief upon the
people of Caldwell, and committed depredations upon the Mormons,
they were to bum Buncombe ; and ii the people of Clay and Ray
made any movements against them, this destroying company were
to bum Liberty and Richmond. This burning was to be done
secretly, by going as incendiaries. At the same meeting, I was
informed, they passed a decree that no Mormon dissenter should
leave Caldwell county alive ; and that such as attempted to do it,
should be shot down, and sent to tell their tale in eternity. In a con-
versation between Dr. Avard and other Mormons, said Avard pro-
posed to start a pestilence among the Gentiles, as he called them, by
poisoning their com, fruity &c., and' saying it was the work of the

EXTRACTS FAOM A IC18SO0Bt DOCUM£NT. 3i3l

L(^ ; and said ATard adrocated ltiho for the sopport of their reli-
gion, and SAID IT WAS ho barm to lie for the Lord ! ! The plan
of said Smith, the Prophet, is to take this State ; and he professes to
his people to intend taking the United States, and ultimateljr the
whole world. J%i8 is the beUrf of the Churchy and my own opinion
of the Prophet's plans and intentions. It is my opinion that neither
■aid Joseph Smith, the Prophet, nor any one of the principal men,
who is firm in Uie faith, could be indicted for any offence in the
eounty of Caldwell. The Prophet inculcates the notion, and it is
believed by every true Mormon, that Smith* a prophecies are superior
to the lato of the land. I have heard the Propnet say that he shoold
vet tread doum his tnemies^ and toalk over their dead bodies; that if
he was not let alone, he would-be a second Mahomet to this genera-
tion, and that he would make it one gore of blood from the Rockff
Mountains to the Jitlantic Ocean ; that Uke Mahomet^ whose motto,
in treating for jae^ce, was *• the AUoran or the Sword^ so should it be
eventually with us, * Joseph Smith or the Sword.* These last
statements were made during the last summer. The number of
armed men at Adam-on-diahmon was between liiree and four hun-
dred. Thomas B. March.

*' Sworn to and subscribed before me, the day herein written.

** Henry Jacobs, J. P., Bay County, Missouri.

" RicBMoin>, BfiMowi, October 34, 1838.>>

•^ffidaioU qf Oraon Hydt.

^ The most of the statements in the fore^ing disclosure of
Thomas B. Much 1 know to be true ; the remamder / beti&ee to (e
true. Orson Htde.

" Richmond, October 94, 1838.

^ Sworn to and subscribed before me, on the day above written.

** Henry Jacobs, J. P."

CeriificaU of Tbomaa C Burch and Others.

"The undersigned committee, on the nart of the citi2ens of
Ray county, have no doubt but Tiiomas B. March and Orson Hyde,
whose names are signed to the foregoing certificates, have been
members of the Mormon Church in full fellowship until very re-
cently, when they voluntarily abandoned the Mormon Church and
faith, and that said March was, at the time of his dissenting, the
mesident of the twelve Apostles, and president of the Church at Far
West, and that said Hyde was at that time one of the twelve A^kmh
lies, and that they left the Church, and abandoned the faith or the
Mormons, from a conviction of their immorality and impiety.

^ Thos. C. Burch, J. R. Hendley,

**• William Hudoins, C. R. Morehead,

*' Henry Jacobs, O. H. Searcy.

*^ Georoe Woodward,
•< RiCHMoirp, Otteker 94, 1838."

322 uisToay of th£ jsajnts,

Crenmd dark to the Governor,

*' HfiAD-QUABTSM OF THS MiLITIA XMPLOrSD AGAINfT THS MoB|fOHt, )

RiCMHONO, M'ovember 10, 1838. )

" To HiB Excellency L. W. Boggs ;
"Sir,—

" I find, by inquiry, that with all the enormities we
have heard charged afirainst these people, [the Mormons,] many of
which charges we looked upon as the offspring of prejudice on the
part of our citizens, THE half has not yet been told!! Ther^
t$ no crime, from treason doton to the most petty labceny, hut
these people, or a majority of them, Jtave been guilty of, all, too, under
the counsel of Joseph Smith, Jr., the Prophet! They have committed
TREASON, MIJRDER, ARSON, fiURGLARY, ROBBERY,
LARCENY, AND FERJURY ! ! ! They have societies formed
under the most binding covenants inform, and the most horrid oaths,
to circumvent the laws, and put them at defiance, and to plunder, and
hum, and murder, and divide the spoils for the use of the Church.
This is what they call the Danite Society. « * «

" Under this horrid system many of the citizens of Daviess
county, who went to that frontier poor, and who, by their industry
and economy, had acquired a good living, have been robbed of every
article of property they have, their homes burnt before their eyes, and
they and their wives and children driven out of the county, without
any kind of shelter ! In one instance I have been informed that a
family was ordered off, and their houses burnt in their sight, and a
woman driven out whUe it teas snounng, with a child only four days
old; in another case, I^was informed the family was driven away,
and the ujoman was compelled to ask protection in a few miles, where
she was delivered of a child a short time after she was thus treated! .
These, sir, are some of the offences of theise people. * * *

" I am, sir,

** Your obedient servant,

"John B. Clark,
^* Major- General Commanding"

The Governor to General dark,

« ExacoTiTB DsPAETiiKNT, CiTT OF JxFrxMON, Jfowmber 1, 1838.

" Major-Greneral John B. Clabk :
"Sir,—

" Your communication, by express, of October 30, en-
closing one from Major-General Atchison and Lucas, of the 88th
October, has been received. It is impossible for me to leave here ;
^e near approach of the meeting of the legislature renders it neces^
sary that every moment of my time be employed in preparation to
meet them. U was considered by me that full and ample powers
were vested in you to carry into effect my former orders. The case
is now a very plain one ; tne Mormons must be subdued, and pkacs

EXTRACTS FROM A MISSOURI DOCUMENT. 323

festorid to the community. Yott will, therefore, proceed without
delay to execute the former orders. Full confidence is reposed in
your ability to do so ; your force will be amply sufficient to accom-
plish the object. Should you need the aid of artillery, I would sug-
gest that an application be made to the commanding officer of Fort
Leavenworth, for such as you may need. You are authorized to
request the loan of it in the name of the State of Missouri. My
presence then could effect nothing. I therefore again repeat that
you are authorized, and full power is given you, to take whatever
steps you deem necessary, and such as Uie circumstances of the case
may seem to demand, to subdue the insurgents, and give peace and^
quiet to the country. The ringleaders of this rebellion should be
made an example of j and, if it should become necessary for
THE PUBLIC peace, t^o Mormons should be exterminated or ex-
pelled from tlie State. In order that no difficulty may arise in rela-
tion to the command, I must inform you that neither General
Atchison nor Lucas have been called into service under the late
order, (except Greneral Lucas was directed to raise four hundred
men in his division, and to place them under the command of a
Brigadier- General.) The privilege was offered him of commanding
the troops from his own division, though subject to your orders. All
the troops now under arms, and those that may arrive at the seat of
war, are placed under your command.

" You will report to me by express, and keep me regularly in-
formed of any thing of importance which may occur. The near
approach of winter requires that your operations should be hastened.
Aner having restored quiet, you will cause the people of Daviess
county, who have been driven from their homes, to be reinstated.

" 1 am, respectfully,

" Your obedient servant,

« L. W. BOGGS,

" Commander-in-Chief."

Certificate of Mormons as to the Condiut of General Clark and

his Troops,

" RicHUOND, J^ovember 93, 1838.

" Understanding that Major- General Clark is about to return with
the whole of his command from the scene of difficulty, we avail
ourselves of this occasion to state that we were present when the
Mormons surrendered to Major- General Lucas at Far West, and
remained there until Major-Greneral Clark arrived; and we are
happy to have an opportunity, as well as the satisfaction, of stating
that the course of him and his troops, while at Far West, was of the
most respectful, kind, and obliging character towards the said Mor-
mons ; and that the destitute among that people are n^uch indebted
to him for sustenance during his stay. The modification of the
terms upon which the Mormons surrendered, by permitting them to
remain until they could safely go in the spring, was also an act that
gave general satisfaetion to the Mormons. We have no hesitation

334 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS*

ia sajringf that the course taken by General Clark with the MormoM
was necessary for the public peace ; and that the Mormons are g^*
erally satisfied with his course, and feel in duty bound to say that
the conduct of the General, his staff officers, and troops, was highly
honorable as soldiers and citizens, so far as our knowledge extends ;
and we have heard of nothing derogatory to the dignity of the State
in the treatment of the prisoners.

^* Respectfully, &c.,

« W. W. Phelps,
" Geo. Waltke,
** John Clem imson,

<< G. M. HiNKLE,

''John Corrill."

EVIDENCE
GIVEN BEFORE THE HON. AUSTIN A. KING,

JUDGE OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI,

•^ the Ctmrt'Houst in Richmond^ in a Criminal Court of
Inquiry^ h^un Nwtwher 12, A, D, 1838, on the Trial oj
Joseph Smith, Jr*j and Others, for High Treason, and other
Crimes against the State,

"STAtE OF Missouri vs, Joseph Smith, Jr., Htrum Smith,
Lyman Wight, Ebenezer Robinson, Alanson Riplet,' and
others; who were charged with the several crimes of high
treason against the Stativ, murder, burglart, arson,
robbery, and larceny.

'^ Sampson Avard, a witness produced, sworn, and examined oa
behalf of the State, deposeth and saith : * That about four months ago,
a band, called the Daughter of Zion, (since called the Damte BaiM,)
was formed of the members of the Mormon Church, the original
object of which was to drive from the county of Caldwell all Uibse
who dissented from the Mormon Church; in which they succeeded
admirably, and to the satisfaction of those concerned. I consider
Joseph Smith, Jr., as the mime mover and organizer of this Danite
Band. The officers of the band, according to their gprades, were
brought before him, at a school-house, togemer with Hyrum Smith
and Sidney Rigdon ; the three composing the First Presidency of
the whole Church. Joseph Smith, Jr., blessed them, and prophened
over them; declaring that they should be the means, in the hands of
€rod, of bringing forth the millennial kingdom. It was stated by
Joseph Smith, Jr., that it was necessary mat this band should be
bound together, bv a covenant, that those who revealed the secrets of
the Societtf shoidd be put to death. The covenant taken by the

EVIDENCE GXtEN BEFQRE tUDGE KING. 3^5

Danito Band was as follows, to wit: They declared, holding up
their right hands, '^ In the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, I
do solemnly obligate myself ever to conceal, and never to reveal,
the secret purposes of this society, called the Daughter of Zion.
Should I ever do the same, I hold my life as the forfeiture." The
Prophet, Joseph Smith, Jr.,. together with his two councillors, (Hy-
rum Smith and Sidney Rigdon,) were considered as tfie supreme head
of the Church ; and the Danite Bandfdt themselves as much hound to
obey themy as to obey the Supreme Uod. Instruction was ^iven by
Joseph Smith, Jr., that if any of them should get into a difficulty,
the rest should help him out ; and that they sh6uld stand by each
other, RIGHT OR wrong. This instruction was given at a Danite
meeting in a public address. * *

*' ' At the election last August, a report came to Far West, that some
of the brethren in Daviess county were killed. I called for twenty
volunteers to accompany me to Daviess to see into this matter. I
went, and about one hundred Mormons accompanied me to Adam-on-
diahmon — Mr. Joseph Smith, Jr., in company. When I arrived
there, I found the report exaggerated. JVone were killed. We visited
Mr. Adam Black — about 150 or 200 men of us armed. Joseph
Smith, Jr., was commander; and if Black had not signed the paper
he did, it was the common understanding, and belief, that he would
have shared the fate of the dissenters.' * * *

'* *• Joseph Smith, Jr., the Sunday before the late disturbances in
Daviess, at a church meeting, gave notice that he wished the whole
county collected on the next day (Monday) at f^ar W^est. He
declared (on Sunday or Monday — I don't recollect which) that all
who did not taJceup arms in defence of the Mormons of Daviess should
he considered as tories, and should take their exit from the county.

** *■ At the meetinff on Monday, when persons met from all parts of
the county of Ccddwell, Joseph Smith, Jr., took the pulpit, and
delivered an address.

*''ln the address, he related an anecdote about a captain who
applied to a Dutchman to purchase potatoes, who refused to sell.
The captain then charged his company several different times, not
to touch the Dutchman's potatoes. In the morning, the Dutchman
had not a potatoe left in his whole patch ! This was in reference to
touching no property in our expedition to Daviess county that did
not belong to us, but he told us that the children of God did not go to
war at their own expense. *««««» #^

" ' Lyman Wight observed that, before the winter was over, he
thought we would be in St. Louis, and take it. Smith charged
them that they should be united in supporting each other. Smith
said, on some occasions, that one should chase a thousand, and two
put ten thousand to flight; that he considered the -'nlted States
rotten. He compared the Mormon Church to tite little stone spoken of
by the prophet Daniel, and the dissenters first, and the State next, was
part of the image that should be destroyed by this little stone ! !
The council was called on to vote the measures of Smith, which they
did unanimously. On the next day Captain Patten (who was called
bjr ttie Prophet, Captain FeamQught) took command of about one

28

326 HISTORY OP THE SAINTS.

hundred armed men, and told them that he had a job for them to do,
and that the work of the Lord was rolling on, and they must be
united. He then led the troops to Gallatin, saying he was going to
attack the mob there. He made a rush into Gallatin, dispersing the
few men there, and took the goods out of Stolling's store, and carried
them to *Diahmon, and I afterwards saw the storehouse on fire.
When we returned to 'Diahmon, the goods were deposited in the
Lord's storehouse, under the care of Bishop Vinson Knight ! ! !
Orders were strictly given that all the ffoods should be deposited in
the. Lord's storehouse. No individuals were to appropriate any
thing to themselves until a general distribution should be made.
Joseph Smith, Jr., was at Adam-on-diahmon, giving directions about
things in general connected with the war. When Patten returned
from Gallatin to Adam-on-diahmon, the goods were divided, orappoT'
tioned out, among those engaged^ and these affairs icere conducted
under the superintendence of the First Presidency i * » *

" ' Some months ago, I received orders to destroy the paper con-
cerning the Danite Society ; which order was issued by the First
Presidency, and which paper, being the Constitution for the govern-
ment of the Danite Society, was in my custody, but which I did not
destroy. It is now in General Clark's possession. I gave the paper
up to General Clark after I was taken prisoner. I round it in my
purse, where I had previously deposited it, and believe it never had
been in any person's possession after I first received it. This paper
was taken into President Rigdon's house, and read to the Prophet
and his Councillors, aUd was unanimously adopted by them as their
rule and guide in future. After it was thus adopted, I was instructed
by the Council to destroy it, as, if it should be discovered, it would
be considered treasonable. This Constitution, after it was ap-
proved by the First Presidency, was read, article by article, to the
Danite Band, and unanimously adopted by them. This paper was
drawn up about the time the Danite Band was formed. Since the
drawing up of the paper against the dissenters, it was that this Con-
stitution of the Danite Band was draughted ; but I have no minutes
of the time, as we were directed not to keep written minutes; which
Constitution, above referred to, is as follows : —

" ' Whereas, in all bodies, laws are necessary for the permanency,
safetv, and well-being of society, we, the members of the society of
the Daughter of Zion, do agree to regulate ourselves under such
laws as, in righteousness, shall be deemed necessary for the preser-
vation of our noly religion, and of our most sacred rights, and of the
rights of our wives and children. But, to be explicit on the subject,
it is especially our object to support and defend the rights conferred
on us by our venerable sires, who purchased them with the pledges
of their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors. And now, to
prove ourselves worthy of the liberty conferred on us by them, in
the providence of God, we do agree to be governed by such laws aB
shall perpetuate these high privileges, of which we know ourselves
to be the rightful possessors, and ot which privileges wicked and de-
signing men have tried to deprive us, By all manner of evil, and
that purely in consequence of the tenacity we have manifested in

EVIDEKCE GIVEN BEFORE JUDGE KING. 827

the discharge of our duty towards our God, who had given us those
rights and privileges, and a right, in common with others,' to dwell
on this land. But we, not having the privileges of others allowed
unto us, have determined, like unto our fathers, to resist tyranny,
whether it be in kings or in the people. It is all alike unto us. Our
rights we must have, and our rights we shall have, in the name of
Israel's God.

. " ' Art. 1. All power belongs originally and legitimately to the
people, and they have 'a right to dispose of it as they shall deem fit;
but, as it is inconvenient and impossible to convene the people in all
cases, the legislative powers have been given by them, from time to
time, into the hands of a representation composed of delegates from
the people themselves* This is and has been the law, both in civil
and religious bodies, and is the true principle.

" ' Art. 2. The executive power shall be vested in the President
oj the whole Church, and his Councillors,

"'Art. 3. The legislative powers shall reside in the President
and his Councillors together, and with the Generals and Colonels of
the society. By them all laws shall be made regulating the society.

" ' Art. 4. All offices shall be during life and good behavior, or
to be regulated by the law of God.

" ' Art. 5. The society reserves the power of electing its own of-
ficers, with the exception of the Aids and Clerks which the officers
may need in their various stations ; the nomination to go from the
Presidency to his second, and from the second to the third in rank,
and so down through all the various grades. Each branch or de-
partment retains the power of electing its own {^articular officers.

" *■ Art. 6. Punishments shall be aBministered to the guilty in ac-
cordance to the offence ; and no member shall be punished without
law, or by any others than those appointed by law for that purpose.
The legislature shall have power to make laws regulating punish'
mentSf as in their judgment shall be wisdom and righteousness.

" *■ Art. 7. There shall be a Secretary, whose business it shall be
to keep all the legislative records of the society ; also to keep a regis-
ter of the names of every member of the society ; also the rank of
the officers. He shall also communicate the laws to the Generals,
as directed by laws made for the regulation of such business by the
legislature.

"'Art. 8. All officers shall be subject to the commands of the
Captain- General, given through the Secretary of War; and so all
officers shall be subject to their superiors in rank, according to laws
made for that purpose.

" ' In connection with the grand scheme of the Prophet, his Preach-
ers and Apostles were instructed to preach to and instruct their fol-
lowers, (who are estimated in Europe and America at about 40,000,)
that it was their duty to come up to the State called Far West,
and to possess the Kingdom ; that it was the will of God they shaidd
do so ; and that the Lord wovld give them power to possess the
Kingdom. There was another writing drawn up, in June last,
which had for its object to get rid of the dissenters, and which had
tiie desired effect; (this is we paper drawn up against the dissent-

328 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

en xefened to by the witness.) Since that time, and since the in-
troduction of the scheme of the Prophety made known in the above
Constitution, I have heard the Prophet say that it was a fortunate
thing that we got rid of the dissenters, as they would have endan-
gered the rolling on of the Kingdom of God as introduced, and to
be carried into effect, bt the Danite Band ; that they, the dissent-
ers, were firreat obstacles in their way ; and that, unless they were
removed^ Uie aforesaid Kingdom could not roll on. [This paper
against the diraenters is as follows : — ]

»« * Far Wbst, Jime, 1838.

"'To Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, John Whitmer,
William W. Phelps, and Lyman £. Johnson, greeting :

'' *■ Whereas the citizens of Caldwell county have borne with the
abuse received from you, at different times, and on different occa^
sions, until it is no longer to be endured ; neither will they endure
it any longer, having exhausted all the patience they have, and con-
ceive that to bear any longer is a vice instead of a virtue. We have
borne long, and suffered incredibly ; but we will neither bear nor
suffer any longer ) and the decree has gone forth from our hearts,
and shall not return to us void. Neither think, gentlemen, that, in
so saying, we are trifling with either you or ourselves \ for we are
not. There are no threats from you — no fear of losing our lives by
you, or by any thing you can say or do, will restrain us ; for ovt cf
the county you shall go, and no power shall save you. And you
shall have three days afler you receive this communication to you^
including twenty-four hours in each day, for you to depart with your
&milies, peaceably ; which you may do, undisturbed by any person ;
but in that time, if you do not depiui;, we will use the means in our
power to cause you to depart; for go you shall. We will have
no more promises to reform, as you have already done, and in every
instance violated your promise, and regarded not the covenant whicn
you had made, but put both it and us at defiance. We have solemn-
ly warned you, ana that in the most determined manner, that if you
did not cease that course of wanton abuse of the citizens of this
county, that vengeance would overtake you, sooner or later, and
that when it did come it would be as furious as the mountain torrent^
and as terrible as the beating tempest ; but you have affected to de-
spise our warnings, and pass them off witn a sneer, or a grin, or a
threat, and pursued your former course ', and vengeance sleepeth not.
neither does it slumber; and unless you heed us this time, ana
attend to our request, it will overtake you at an hour when you
do not expect f and at a day when you do not look for it; and for yov
there shall be no escape ; for there is but one decree for you,
which is. Depart, depart, or a more fatal calamity shall befall you.
» «'« * « « « « « « •

"' ' The above was signed by some 83 Mormons.

* . * * ^' ' I have looked upon him [Htrum Smith] as
one composing the First Presidency ; acting in concert with Joseph-
Smith, Jr., approving, by his preseneey aUs^ and eonveraaHmUj unt
vnlawftd schemes of the Presidency. * * •

EVIDENCE GIVEN BEFOBE JUDGE KING. 329

'* < I was continually in the society of the Presidency, receiving
instructions from them as to the teachings of the Danite Band ; and
I continually informed them of my teacnin^ ; and they were well
apprized of my course! and teachings in the Danite Society.

** * And further this deponent saith not.

" * Sampson Afard. * "

'* Maurice Phelps, a witness produced, sworn, and examined, for
the State, deposeth and saith : * That «*«***

'*< On our return from the battle-ground, near Log Creek timber,
in Caldwell county, we met Joseph Smith, Jr., Lyman Wiffht, and
others, who went to the wounded and pronounced blessmgs 04
them, and prayed for them to be healed and saved. When we
started from McDaniel's field fence, the only command givdn, that I
beard, was, " Boys, follow me ! " given by the commander. I have
been in two Danite meetings. The first, I did not make any excep-
tion to ; but, in the second, the following exceptionable doctrine was
inculcated : ^^that we should take spoil, or plunder, in some cases."
« ft « « « « « « «« «

" * The day before the Mormons went to .Adam-oti'Diahmon, J.
Smith, Jr., in an address, told an anecdote of a Dutchman who had
been applied to by a captain to purchase potatoes, &c.

'* * And further this deponent saith not. Maurice Phelps.' "

^^John CorrUl, a witness produced, sworn, and examined, in
behalf of the State, deposeth and saith : ' That about last June I
was invited to a private meeting, in which an effort was made to
adopt some plan to get rid of the dissenters. There were some
things I did not like, and opposed it, with others, and failed. Afler
that, I met President Rigdon, and he told me I ought not to have
any thing to do with it ; that they would do as they pleased. / took
his advice. T learned afterwards that they had secret meetings ; but
I was never invited. « * «

<' * In a few days, there seemed considerable excitement among
the people, and the dissenters lefl, as I advised them they were in
danger. I was afterwards invited to one of these meetings, where
an oath, in substance the same as testified to by Doctor Avard,
was administered. The society was ultimately organized into com-
panies, and captains of tens and fifties were appomted. I took ex-
ceptions only to the teachings as to the duties of^that society, where-
in it was said, if one brother got into any kind of a difficulty, it was
the duty of the rest to help him out, right or wrong.

« * In the last, or in some public meeting, Joseph Smith, Jr., said,
if the people would let us alone, we would preach the gospel to
them in peace ', but, if they came on us to molest us, we wmdd estdb'

28*

330 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS-

lisk our religion hy the sioord; and that be would becohjc to

THIS GENERATION A SECOND MaHOMET.

« « * * « « * »«

" * This Mormon Church has been represented as being the Uttle
stone spoken of by Daniel, which should roll on and crush all
OPPOSITION TO IT, and ultimately should be established as a tempo-
ral as well as a spiritual Kingdom. These things were to be tar-
ried on through the instrumentality of the Danitc Band, as far as
force was necessary, if necessary, they being organized into bands
of tens, fifties, &c., ready for war. The teachings of that society
led them to prohibit the talkings of any persons against the Presi-
dency ; so much so, that it was dangerous for any man to set up
opposition to any thing that might be set on foot, and I became afraid
to speak my oum mind. *******

" ' On Sunday, Joseph Smith, Jr., in his discourse, spoke of per-
sons* TAKING, at some times, what, at other times, it would be wrong
to take; and gave, as an example, the case of David eating the
shew bread, and also of the Savior and his Apostles plucking the
ears of corn and eating, as they passed through the cornfield.
***»«•*»*■«*

" * No persons were suffered to leave the county in this extreme
time, and I met with Phelps to consult as to what we ought to do.
After the troops got to 'Diahmon, in all about four or five hundred
men, I heard Lyman Wight addressing a portion of the men who
were there, — "that the earth was the Lord's, and the fulness
thereof, with the cattle upon a thousand hills; and if I was a
hungry, I would not tell you; " that the Saints of the Lord had the
same privilege or rights. After that, or perhaps the next day, I
saw a drove of some four or five cattle pass along, and asked what
cattle these were ; and was answered that they were a drove of
buffalo; others observed, they were cattle a Methodist priest had

CONSECRATED !

" * Smithy the Prophet, here asked him [Wight] if they had taken
the negroes. He said, " Yes," Some one then laughingly ob-
served, " Smitli, you have lost your negro.^' * « « »

" ' I think the original object of the Danite Band was to operate
on the dissenters ; but afterwards it grew into a system to carry out
the designs of the Presidency; and, if necessary, to use physical
FORCE to upbuild the Kingdom of God ; it was to be done by them.

" ' And further this deponent saith not.

»' ' John Corrill.' "

*^ James C. Owens, a witness produced, sworn, and examined, on
behalf of the State, deposeth and saith : ' In the morning of the day
that the militia arrived at Far West, I heard Joseph Smith, Jr., in a
speech to the Mormon troops, say that he did not care any xbinr
about the coming of the troops, nor about the laws ; * * and
that he did not intend to try to keep the laws, or please them any

EVIDENCE OITEN BEFORE JUDGE KING. 331

longer; — that they were a damned set, and God should damn
them, 80 kelp him Jesus Christ; that he meant to go on them as he
had begun, and take his own course, and kill and destroy, and
told the men to fight like angels ; that heretofore he told them to
fight like devils, but now he told them to fight like angels; that an-

fds could whip devils. * »* * * « * »

[e swore considerably, and observed that they might think that he
was swearing; but that God Almighty would not take notice of him
in cnrsinff such a damned set as they were. *'*»*•
He stated, at that or some other time, that as they had commenced
consecrating in Daviess county, that he intended to have the sur-
rounding counties consecrated to him ; that the time had come when
the riches of the Gentiles shotdd be consecrated to the Saints ! !
«««««««««««

** * And further this deponent saith not*

»'» James C. Owens.'"*

'* John Cleminson^ a witness produced, sworn, and examined, in
behalf of the State, deposeth and saith : * Some time in June, I at-
tended two or three Danite meetings ; and it was taught there, as a
part of the duty of the band, that they should support the Fresi-
DENCY in all their designs, right or wrong ; that whatever they
said was to be obeyed, and whoever opposed the Presidency in what
they said, or desired done, should be expelled the county, or have
their lives taken. The three cbmposing the Presidency were at one
of those meetings; and, to satisfy the people. Doctor Avard called
on Joseph Smith, Jr., who save them a pledge, that if they led
them into difficulty, he would ^ive them his head for a foot-ball,
and that it was the will of God these things should be so. The
teacher and active agent of the society was Doctor Avard, and his
teachings were approved of by the Presidency, Doctor Avard fiirther
taught, as a part of their obligation, that if any one betrayed the
secret designs of the society, he should be killed and laid aside, and
nothing said about it ! ««»*»*«

« « « « * « #-« « « •

" < A great deal of other property was brought into the Mormon
camps ; but I do not know where it came from, but understood it to
be consecrated property. It was frequently observed among the
troops, that the time had come when the riches of the Gentiles
should be consecrated to the Saints.

*^ < And farther this deponent siuth not.

" * John Clkminson.' "

*^ Reed Peek, a witness produced, dworn, and examined, on behalf
' of the State, deposeth and saith : *■ A short time after Cowdery and

the Whitmers left Far West, (some time in June,) and

Philo Dibble invited me to a Danite meeting. I went; and the

333 BISTORT or the saints.

only speaker was Doctor Avard, who explained the object of the
meeting, and said that its object was, that we might be perfectly
organized to defend ourselves * * • that we were ail to be
governed by the Presidency, and do whatever they required, and
uphold them; that we were not to judge for ourselves whuher U toere
right or wrong ; that God had raised up a Prophet who vxmld
judge for us; and that it was proper we should stand by each other
in all cases ; and he gave us an example : If we found one of the
Danites in a difficulty, in Ray or Clay, for instance, we should rescue
him, if we had to do with his adversary as Moses did with the
Egyptian — put him in the sand!!! It made no difference
whether the Danite was to blame, or not ; they would pack to Far
West, and there be taken care of.

*^ * I was present at one meeting when the officers of the society
"^eie presented and introduced to the Presidency, each officer re-
ceiving a blessing from them. « * *

<' ' I heard Avard, on one occasion, say that the Danites were to
consecrate their surplus property, and to come in by tens to do so ;
and if they lied' about it — he said Peter kiUed Ananias and Sap'
phira, and that would be an example for tis, * * *

'' ' On the day before the last expedition to Daviess, I heard Jo-
seph Smith, Jr., in a speech, say, in reference to stealing, that in
tL general way he did not approve of it; but that, on one occasion,
our Savior and his disciples stole corn in passing through the corn-
fields, for the reason that they could not otherwise procure any thing
to eat. He told an anecdote of a Dutchman's potatoes, and said, in
substance, that a colonel or captain was quartered near a Dutchman,
from whom he wished to purchase some potatoes, who refused to
sell them. The officer then charged his men not to be caught
stealing the Dutchman's potatoes ; but next morning he found his
potatoes all dug. * * *

" *'When tire troops arrived at 'Diahmon, they were divided into
companies of twenty, forty, fifty, &c., just as they might be called
for. These companies were sent out in' different parts of the coun-
try, as I saw them thus occasionally going out and coming in. I
saw a company of about fifly, called a Fur Company, come once.
Some had one thing and some another ; one I saw with a feather
bed ; another had some spun yarn. I understood from some of
those who were bringing property, that they were to take it to the
Bishop's store, and deposit it ; and if they failed to do so, it would
be considered stealing / » « *

«< * I heard Penr Keyes, one who was engaged in the depredations
in Daviess, say that Joseph Smith, Jr., remarked, in his presence,
that it was his intention, after thev got through in Daviess, to go
down and take the store in Carrolfton. This remark Smith made
while in Daviess. After the Mormon troops returned to Far West
from Daviess, I saw several of the captains of tens, who had been
in that expedition, making out a list of their men, for the purpose,
as they said, of being handed in, that they might receive their portion
of the SPOILS.

EVIDENCE GIVEN BEFORE JUDGE KING. 333

** * Some time previous to the difficulties in Daviess, the first time
when the militia went out there for the purpose of keeping the
peace, I heard Joseph Smith, Jr., in a public address, say that he
tiad a reverence for the Constitution of the United States and of this
State ; but, as for the laws of this State, he did not intend to regard
them^ nor to care any thing about thenif as they were made by lavyyers
and blacklegs,

** ' In that council Avard said, an arrangement was made to dispose
of the dissenters, to wit : that all the head officers of the Danite
Band should have a list of the dissenters, both here and in Kirtland ;
'*and," said he, ^' I will tell you how I will do them: when I meet
one damninff the Presidency, I can damn them as well as he ; " and,
if he wanted to drink, he would get a bowl of brandy y and get him
haXf-drunky and, taking him by me arm, he would take him to the
woods or brush, *' and, said he, ^^ would be into their guts in a minute^

and PUT THEM UNDER THE SOD " ! ! !

* * And further this deponent saith not.

«'Rbed Peck."*

*' WilUam W. Phelps, a witness on the part of the State, produced,
sworn, and examined, deposeth and saith : ' That

** * It was observed in the meeting, that if any person spoke against
the Presidency, they would hand him over to the hands of the
Brother of Gideon.

** *■ The object of the meeting seemed to be to make persons con^
fess and repent of their sins to God and the Presidency; and ar-
raigned them for giving false accounts of their money and ejfects
tliey had on hand ; and they said, whenever they found one guilty
of these things, they were to be handed over to the Br other, cf
Gideon. Several were found guilty, and handed over as they said.
I vet did not know what was meant by this expression, the * Jorother
of Gideon.' Not a great wliile after mis, secret or private meetings
were held ; I endeavored to find out what they were, and I learned,
from John Corrill and others, they were forming a secret society,
called Danitesy formerly called the Brother of Gideon.

* » tt » « « « * «'» «

<* < I remarked to him, I thought such a thing treasonable — to set
tip a government within a government. He [D. W. Patten] an-
swered, it would not be treasonable if they would maintain it, or
fight till they died. Dimick B. Huntington, and some others, made
about the same remark.

** ^ There was a short speech made then, by Joseph Smith, Jr.,
about carrying on the war ; in which he said, it was necessary to
have something to live on ; and, when they went out to war, it was

334 HISTORY or the saints.

necessary to take spoils to live on. This was in reference to the
dissenters, as well as to the people of Daviess, where thev were
going. In this speech he told the anecdote of the Dutchman's
potatoes. .

'^ *• Wight asked J. Smith, Jr., twice, if he had come to the point
now to resist the law ; that he wanted this matter now distinctly
understood. He said he had succeeded in smoothinj^ the matter
over with Judge King, when he was out ; and that he defied the
United States to take him ; but that he had submitted to be taken,
because he (Smith) had done so. This was in reference to the ex-
amination for the offence for which he and Smith had been brought
before Judge King in Daviess. Smith replied, the time had come

tohen HE SHOULD RESIST ALL LAW ! ! !

'* *■ And further this deponent saith not.

"•W. W Phelps.*"

** George M. HinkUj a witness for the State, produced, sworn, and
examined, deposeth and saith :

^ * There was much mysterious conversation in camps, as to
plundering and house-burning; so much so, that I had my own
notions about it ; and, on one occasion, I spoke to Mr. Smith, Jr.,
in the house, and told him that this course of burning houses and
plundering, by the Mormon troops, would ruin us ; that it could not
be kept hid, and would bring the force of the State upon us ; that
houses would be searched, and stolen property found. Smith
replied to me, in a pretty rough manner, to keep still ; that I should
say nothing about it; that it would discourage the men, and henoould
not suffer me to say any thine ubout it. Again, in a private conveiv
sation, I said to him I would not raise a mutiny by saying any thing
publicly ; but I wished to talk to him privately, not wishing, how-
ever, to set myself up above him in the matter, l3Ut that I wished to
do it for the good of the Church. I knew this was the way I could
get to talk with him. I explained myself more fully than when in
jh.e house ; and told him I thought things were running to a dan-
gerous extreme, and he ought to exercise his influence to stop it, as
uiis course of things would ruin his people. He answered that I
was mistaken, and that / wa^ scared^ and that this was the only way
to gain our liherty and our point ! ! ! * * * *

** * I saw a great deal of plunder and bee-stands brought into
camp ; and I saw many persons, for many days, taking the honey
out of them ; I understood this property and plunder were placed
into the hands of the Bishop at 'Diimroon, named Vinson Knight,
to be divided out among them, as their wants might require. There
were a number of horses and cattle drove in, also h^tgs hauled in
dead with the hair on ; but whose they were, I know not. They
were generally called consecrated PROPSRTr !

EVIDENCE GIVEN BEFOBE JUDGE KING. 335

** ' I have heard Joseph Smith, Jr., say that he believed Mahomet
was a good man; that the Koran was not a true thing, but the wmld
hdied Mahomet, as they had belied him, and that Mahomet was a
TRUE Prophet ! ! The general teachings of the Presidency were,
that the Kingdom they were setting up was a temporal as well da
a spiritual kingdom ; that it loas the Uxde stone spoken of by Daniel,
« » « « * « « *« « «

<* ' It was tauffht, that the time had come when the riches of the
Gentiles were to be consecrated to the true Israel. This thing of taking
property was considered afuiJUment of the above prophecy.

« « * « « « « * «-* «

" * After we came in from 'Diahmon to Far West, from the last
expedition to Daviess, Joseph Smith, Jr., said he intended to ttoist a
war fag J or standard, on -the square in Far West, on which he in-
tended to write, ** Religion aside, and free toleration to all religions,
and to aU people that wotdd flock to it; and that he believed thousands
in the surrounding country would, flock to it, and give him force
sufficient to accomplish his designs in maintaining his flag and in
carrying on the war. The morning that I marched to Far West, to
meet the militia to confer with them, as above referred to, Joseph
Smith, Jr., made a speech to . the troops who were called together,
in which he said that the troops which were ^atliering through the
country were a damned mob; that he had tried to please them long
enough ; that he had tried to keep the law long enough ; but, as to
keeping the law of Missouri any longer, he did rwt intend to try to dq
so. That the whole State was a mob set ; and that, if they came to
fiffht him, he would play hell with their apple-carts ! ! !
He told his people that they heretofore had tlie character of fighting
like detUs, but they should now fight like angels, for angels could
whip dtvUs! While in Daviess, on the last expedition, I mentioned
the great difficulties the course they were pursuing would likely get
them into ; the reply was, by a number of them, that, as the citizens
bad aU fled, there would be none to prove it by but themselves, and
THEY COULD SWEAR AS THEY PLEASED IN THE
MATTER ! ! ! These, I believe, were of the Danite order! And
I understood from them that THEY COULD SWEAR EACH
OTHER CLEAR, if it should become necessary ! !

" * In that conversation, while many were present, I heard Lyman
Wight say, that the sword had now been drawn, and should not be
sheathed until he had marched to De Witt, in Carroll county, into
Jackson county, and into many other places in the State, and swore
thai he toas aJble to accomplish it.

**' * And further this deponent saith not.

"'G. M. Hinkle/'

'' Thomas M. Odle, a witness for the State, produced, sworn, and
examined, deposeth and saith : ' On the Saturday after OaUatin toag

836 HISTORY OF TH£ SAINTS.

burnt, an armed company of twelve men [Mormotui] rode up to
Mr. Raglin's house, in Dayiess county, where I resided. They in-
quired for John Raglin. I told them where he had gone. They
said their object was to drive the mob [the citizens] from the county,
and that I must go. I replied that I could not ; that I had no way
to get off, and that my family were barefooted. They replied, that
made no difference, / must go ; and said, if I was not gone by next
morning's sun-rising, they would take my life! They told Mrs.
Raglin she must put out ; that there she could not stay, and that
Raglin had better never show himself there ; that they would take
his life if they ever set their eyes on him. Next morning, by the
assistance of friends, we did start, leaving most of our property
there. Since then I have returned, and found the houses burnt j and
the property gone, consisting of household stuff and twenty-nine

BEE-GUMS.

« «H « « « « « » « «

" * They further said that they were at the defiance of any set of
men that oould come against them ; and that they now intended to
maJce U a war of extermination I !

'* * And further this deponent saith not.

his
"* Thomas M. X Odle.' "
mark.

** AUen Rathhun, a witness for the State, produced, sworn, and
examined, deposeth and saith: 'On the day oefore the battle with
Bogart, I was in Far West ; and early in the morning, Daniel Cam,
one of the defendants here, asked me to help him grease his wagon.
I did so, and asked him where he was goinff. He said he was going
out to Mr. Raglin's, in Daviess county ; that there were about
forty bee-stands there, that they w&re going for. Directly afler,
I was at Morrison's store, in Far West, xhere was- a company of
ten or a dozen men there, with two or three wagons. I heard Mr.
Huntington ask for brimstone. Some of the company said they had
two pounds. Huntington answered that would do. Mr. Hunter,
of the defendants, here gave the word of command, and they
marched off, — Mr. Daniel Garn with his wagon with them. Late
that evening, I saw Mr. Cam's wagon at his grocery door, in Far
West. I saw Cam and Huntington unloading it. It was loaded
with one bee-gum and household stuff, consisting of beds or bed-
clothes, KINDER tied up ; also there were onions in the wagon. Mr.
Cam, that evening, remarked, that there would be in, that niffht, a
considerable number of sheep and cattle; and further remarked, that
it looked to him sometimes that it was not right to take plunder, but
that it was according to the directions of Joseph Smith, Jr., and that
was the reason why he did it. The next morning, I saw a considerable
number of sheep on the square in Far West, — near about one hun-
dred ! I then left Far West, and returned home, (in the east part of

EVIDENCE GIVEN BEFORE JUDGE KING. 337

Caldwell county,) having been summoned to FarWest by my militia
captain, but performed no military duties while there.

" 'And fuitber this deponent saith not. Allen Rathi: in.'"

^^ Andrew J. Job, a witness for the State, produced, sworn, a^.' .-
amined, deposeth and saith : ' While the Mormon troops were iu
Daviess county, in the last expedition, I was taken prisoner by
Captain Fearnought, (as he was called,) who, I have since learned,
was a Mr. Patten. While tiiey were getting me into 'Diahmon about
midnight, I passed on between Millport and that place, and counted
ten houses on fire.

'' 'AHer I lefl 'Diahmon, I went to my step-mother's, and made
efforts to get out of the county. After the Mormons surrendered at
'Diahmon to the militia, I went with my step-mother to 'Diahmon, to
hunt for her property, which had been left at the house when she
moved, and which was missing on her return, — such as bedSy bed-
dotkinff, knives and forks y a trunk, &c. On examination, we found
at the house of Lyman Wight, and upon his bedstead, a feath^ bed,
which I KNEW to be the one lefl by her at the time she fled from
the Moimons. I knew the bed from its appearance ; the tick was
striped and pieced at the end, and the stripes of the piece turned
crosswise ; also, we found in Wight's house a set of knives and forks,
which / knew were the same left at her house, as above stated. My
step-mother lefl her residence, (m two miles of 'Diahmon,) where
she left the above articles, on Wednesday before I was taken pris-
oner, which was on the Sunday night after ; and when at 'Diahmon,
the night I was a prisoner, I slept on that same bed, as I believed it
to be, at one Shan's, as I understood his name to be. When my
step-mother left her home near 'Diahmon, where the above articles
were left, she went into the lower part of Daviess ; to which place 1
went when turned loose as a prisoner. My father's name is Rob.
ert Job.

'' 'And further this deponent saith not. his

"'Andrew J. X Job.'"
mar^.

"JSurr Riggs, a witness for the State, produced, sworn, and exam-
ined, deposedi and saith :

* » * tt t While in 'Diahmon, I saw a great deal of

plunder brought in, consisting of beds and bed-clothes ; I also saw
one clock, and I saw thirty-six head of cuttle drove in, and put into a
pen. All the above property was called consecrated property ; and I
heard John L. Butler, one of the Mormons who was engaged in
assisting to drive the cattle in, say that they had taken uie cattle
from the ditizens of the Grindstone Fork ; and said he had made a
valuable expedition. I saw Ebenezer Robinson there, who had a
gun-barrel in his hand. I asked him where he got it, and he told

29

338 HI9T0RT or THE SAINTS.

me that the eveniilg before he had set a bam on fire, and that be
heard the gun go off while the house was burning, and he went
back and got the barrel out of the ruins of the barn.

" Two or three daya before the surrender of the Mormons to the
militia at Far West, I heard Joseph Smith, Jr., say that the sword was
now unsheathed, and should not asain be sheathed until he could
go through these United States, and live in any county he pleased,
peaceably. I heard this from him, also, before the last expedition
to Daviess, when Gallatin and Millport were burnt, as well as after-
wards, and I heard it on several occasions.

« » « « « « » « *,«

** *And further this deponent saith not. Burr Rigos.' "

" John Whitmerj a witness for the State, produced, sworn, and ex-
amined, deposeth and saith : * About the 17th of April last, at a meet-
ing of perhaps fifleen or twenty-five, in Far West, Joseph Smith, Jr.,
spoke in reierence to difficulties they had, and their persecutions,
&c., in and out of the church. Mr. Smith said, he did not intend
in future to have any process served on him, and the ofiicer who
attempted it should die; that any person who spoke or acted against
the Presidencu or the Church should leave the country or die ; that
he would suffer no such to remain there ; that they should lofie tlieir
head.

u

*Among others, I conversed with Alanson Ripley. I spoke
of the supremacy of the laws of the land, and the necessity of, at all
times, be nig governed by them. He replied that, as to the techni-
cal niceties of the law of'^the land, he did not intend to regard them;
that the kingdom spoken of by the prophet Daniel lead been set up^
and that it was necessary eveiy kingdom should be governed by its

own laws. I also conversed with , on the same

subject, who answered, (when I spoke of being governed by the
laws, and their supremacy,) " When God spoke, he must be obeyed,'*
whether his word came in contact with the laws of the land or not ;
and that, as the kingdom spoken of by Daniel had been set up, its
laws must be obeyed. I told him I tnought it was contrary to the
laws of the land to drive men from their liomes; to which he re-
plied, such things had been done of old, and that the gathering of
the Saints must continue, and that dissenters could not live among
thera in peace.

" * I also conversed with Mr. J. Smith, Jr., on this subject. I told
him I wished to allay the (then) excitement, as far as I could do it.
He said, the excitement was very high, and he did not know what
would allay it ; but remarked, he would give me his opinion, which
wa^, that if I would put my property into the hands of the Bishop
and High Council, to be disposed of according to the laws of the
Church, he thought that would allay it, and that the Church, luter a

EVIDENCE GIVEN BEFDBE JUDGE KING. 339

while, mi^t have confidence in me. I replied to him, I wished to
control my own property. In telling Mr. Smith- that I wished to be
governed by the laws of the land, he answered, " Now, you wish to
pin me down to the law."
*^ ^ And further this deponent saith oet.

***JoHN Whitmer.*"

" George W. Worthhtgion^ a witness on behalf of the State, pro-
duced, sworn, and examined, deposeth and saith : * It was on Thurs-
day, about the I8th day of October last, that Gallatin was taken by
the Mormons. I reside in about a quarter of a mile of town. About
one hundred Mormons, commanded by Captain Patten, as I have
since learned, rushed into town ; seven or eiffht of the citizens were
there, who immediately fled. A portion of the Mormons Tabout
fifly) surrounded my house. They took a horse, saddle, and oridle
out of my yard, belonging to John A. Williams, of Daviess county.
They attempted to take my mare also, but ultimately agreed to let
me have her ; but they took my gun'. I wished to know the name of.
the man who got it, so that I mi^ht get it at some future day. The
captain told me I need not ask for names; for they would not
be given ; they then all went up into town, as they said, to attend
to that store ; shortly after, three or four of them returned to my
house again ; and one of them was Joel S. Miles, one of the de-
fendants here; they came afler a Mormon girl, who was at my
house ; and they told me that, if I belonged to neither party, I had
better put oiflT, and take the best of my property with me. Afler
they left, I went up into town, to see sdf>er some books, notes, and
accounts, I had up in town ; but' could not^t hold of them, as they
had been taken. I met with one of the company, some distance from
StoUing's store, who told me if I would go to 'Diahmon, I could set
them, as well as a coatrpattem, which had also been taken. This
person advised me to go to 'Diahmon or Far West for protection. I
turned off from him to return home. I Ipoked towards the store-
house, and saw the smoke in the roof; and in a short time the
flames burst out of the top of the bouse. I thought it best then for
me to put out, seeing they were burning. It alarmed me, and I
fixed, and did start, that evening, leaving something like $700 toorth
of property in my house. After I left, my house was burnt, and the
property gone. Since then, I have seen- some of my property in a
vacant nouse in 'Diahmon ; some in a storehouse ; some in a house
said to be Bishop KnighVs ; all in 'Diahmon. These articles con-
sisted of a clock, two glass jars, a boz-coai, a paper of screws,
Boine paints, a canister of turpentine, and some planes, chisels,
■quares, &c. » * *

" * And further this deponent saith not.

"* Geo. W. WoRTHiUQTOif.* "

^^ Patrick l/ynch, a witness for the State, produced, sworn, and ex-
amined, deposeth and saith : * I was living in Gallatin, a clerk in
StoUing's ttore, when the Monnons took tluLt place, which was about

340 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.

the middle of October last When the Mormons had aporoached to
within fifty or one hundred yards of the storehouse, I left, having
first locked the door, and deposited the key in my pocket. I ran
into the brush, between one hundred and two hundred yards of the
storehouse, where I saw them taking the goods from the house ;
some were packed off on horses ; and after that, when near half a
mile off, I saw wagons, apparently loaded, which I believed to be
goods from the store. I have found a number of articles taken from
3ie store in 'Diahmon, since the surrender of arms there by the Mor-
mons — such as tin- ware, painted muslin, a piece of bleached do-
mestic, a piece of brown cloth, a lady's cloak, three pair of scales,
and a part of two sets of weights, a leger and three day-books, and
the notes of hand to the amount of perhaps $300, were taken from
the store. The hooks have not been recovered, but the notes I found
in the house of Bishop Knight, at 'Diahmon, in the possession of his
wife, except such notes as were on Mormons ; these we have not
recovered. In about three hours after the Mormons took Gallatin,
I returned, and found the storehouse burnt. The post-office and
treasurer's office were kept in the storehouse, and the records, pa-
pers, &c., belonging to each, were either taken off by the Mormons
or consumed by the fire.
t^. *' ' And further this deponent saith not.

" ' Patrick Ltwch.' "

REMARKS BY WAY OF ADDENDUM.

The moiety of testimony now in my possession is here
closed, and I rest the case with the public. The evidence
is conclusive on all points, and the facts are sustained by
unimpeachable witnesses. The reliance of the Mormons
on BRIBED and PERJURED witnesses ; their confidence
in the falsehoods of R. D. Foster, ''that notable liar,
scoundrel, and villain," as General Robinson calls him;
their excommunication (letters of Marque and JRepri-
sal) of Colonel Orson Pratt, simply because he defended
his innocent and abused wife against the calumnies of
Baal ; their heralding and trumpeting forth the wild and in-
coherent sayings of Miss Eliza lligdon, uttered during her
recent severe sickness, when she was perfectly delirious, —
(laboring under mental hallucination at the acme of con-
secutive exacerbations of high febrile and cerebral excite-
ment, consequent upon an attack of Pneumonia Typhoides,)
knowing that by the declarations of so good and pious a

ADDENDUM. 341

young lady, made under any circumstances, they could
gull and stultify the credulous portion of community, and
thus for a time bolster up the Mormon imposture; their
recent yile and abusive attacks, as published in "The
Wasp," of September 3, 1842, on General James Gordon
Bennett, the ''^Napoleon** Editor of the^New York Herald,
for the only reason that he had indulged in a little pleas-
antry in relation to their Prophet, when at the same time
they are under the most marked obligations to him for
past favors ; their contemptible, absurd, and vituperative,
publications against Moses Y. Beach, Esq., the Lion Editor
of the New York Sun; their calumnies and slanderous
bulletins against Messrs. Sharp, Bartlett, and Davis, the
accomplished Editors of the Warsaw Signal, Q,uincy Whig,
and Alton Telegraph; their attempts to wrest the Nauvoo
post-office from Sidney Rigdon, Esq., the present incum-
bent, by false representations to the Department, in order
to enable them to purloin and suppress my communica-
tions; their great umbrage at Mr. Rigdon because he will
not perjure himself to relieve their Hyena Joe from his
quandary in the case of Nancy ; their system of duplicity,
usurpation, and fraud, in the cases of Oliver H. Olney, F.
6. Bishop, and others; their violent abuse of evert person
who has the honesty and MORAL COURAGE to expose
their iniquities ; with hundreds of other reasons that might
be urged, — all go to show that barefaced lying, per-
jury, FRAUD, and CORRUPTION, (coupled with MURDER,
according to other evidence.) are their dernier ressort, to
save themselves from infamy ind disgrace, and in relation
to which they have no more scruples of conscience than the
wandering Arab, or the degraded Hottentot. They have
ipade lies their refrige, and under falsehood have they hid
themselves. All I ask is a careful perusal of this Expose,
and a critical examination of the testimony. The case is
now respectfully submitted.

CONTENTS

Paf«.
Preface,. 3

Reasons for joining the Mormons, 5

Character of the Author, 10

Inaogural Address, , 20

IRormon Testimony, • « 26

Laying the Corner-Stone of the Temple, 27

Aules of City Council, 35

Witiidrawal from the Church, .40

Vote of Thanks, 42

Correspondence, .44

Opinions of the Newspaper Press, 49

Joe Smith — his Claims and Character, 57

F. Brewer's Testimony,. . . * , 85

G. B. Frost's Testimony, 86

Joe Smith, William Law, and John Taylor, 87

Joe's Bankrupt Application, 96

Book of Mormon — its Origin, etc., 103

Claims and Absurdities of the Book of Mormon, . . .^^ 124

Absurdities and Contradictions of the Book of Covenants, 128

Mormon Paradise, 131

History of the Mormons,. 133

The Designs of Mormonism, 140

Organization and Doctrine of the Mormons, 162

Remarkable Events, 174

Phrenological Charts, ^180

Description of Nauvoo, 189

Charters, Ordinances, etc., 193

City Officers, 205

University, 210

Legion, 211

344 CONTENTS.

The Call, 214

rhe Seraglio, 217

Amours, etc. etc., 206

Mrs. Sarah M. Pratt, • 226

Mrs. Emeline White, 234

Miss Martha H. Brotherton, 236

Miss Nancy Rigdon, • ,^.. .241

Widow Fuller, now Mrs. Warren, 253

Widow Miller, 255

Incidental Reflections, 257

Daughter of Zion, 265

Destroying Angel, 268

Order Lodge, 1272

Milking the Grentiles, 2f3%

Assassination and Attempted Assassinations, v%279

Mr. John Stephenson, • . . . 5.279

Governor Boggs, ^281

The Duress and Attempted Murder of the Author, 287

Contemplated Mormon Empire, • ,. 293

An Appeal to the Public, 302

Extracts from a Missouri Document, '. 307

Evidence given before Judge King, 324

Remarks by way of Addendum, 340